It's easy to get caught up in the fun of Halloween - in
fact, planning costumes and decorations often starts early, and
by the time Halloween night arrives, it's all kids can do to
keep from bursting with excitement!
While Halloween is certainly about fun, it's also about safety
- and parents need to take the lead when it comes to ensuring
the safety of both their kids - and others - on Halloween
night.
Here are some top tips to keep in mind: 
-  Be wise with candy purchases. Give some thought to the
candy you choose to hand out. With a growing number of children
suffering from severe food allergies, including peanut
allergies, consider a peanut-free treats bowl.
-  If your child has a food allergy, be sure to accompany
him while trick-or-treating the entire time. Also, bring along
an EpiPen or Twinject, just to be sure. For more information on
peanut and other food allergies, visit
www.anaphylaxis.ca
. 
-  Make a rule not to eat candy while trick-or-treating,
and then carefully sort through everything when you get home,
tossing anything unwrapped, unlabelled, or home-made right
away. 
-  Be responsible with your child's costume. Makeup is
more fun than a mask and allows for better visibility at night.
Costumes should be easily seen in the dark, and should be short
enough to avoid tripping hazards. 
-  Plan your route ahead of time. Have your child help
plan the route before you step out the door. They'll love being
involved, and having a plan will help you restrict the route to
a well-known area. 
-  Revisit the rules of the road. With all of the
excitement, it's easy to forget to look left and right before
crossing the street. Be sure your children know the different
traffic signals and when it is safe for them to cross - and to
always wait for cars to come to a complete stop before
crossing. 
-  Keep your house free of safety hazards. Clear your
walkway of toys or other tripping hazards for the little ghouls
and goblins that will be visiting your home. Halloween
decorations can add spooky ambiance, but make sure they don't
block lights or obstruct visibility.
Halloween is no doubt an exciting time in a child's life. Be
sure to keep these tips on hand to ensure a safe night of
ghoulish fun for everyone.
  www.newscanada.com
