(MIAMI, Oct. 30, 2014) – Halloween is a holiday full of fun and thrills, but it’s important to keep children safe. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) has highlighted a few tips to make children’s Halloween experience a memorable one for the right reasons.
Drivers:
- Be vigilant of children darting out from between parked vehicles.
- Be watchful of children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
- Follow all road signs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
- As it gets darker outside, be cautious of children dressed in dark clothing.
Parents:
- Accompany children at all times.
- If your home is expecting trick-or-treaters, remove any obstacles that can injure a child from lawns, steps and porches.
- Candlelit jack-o’-lanterns should be kept away from doorsteps, decorations, curtains and other furnishings that can catch fire.
- Discuss and plan the route you intend to take.
- Designate a meeting place where all parents and trick-or-treaters can converge.
- Inform your children about stopping at homes or apartments that are well-lit and to never enter a stranger’s home or accept rides from a stranger.
- Before allowing children to eat their candy, inspect it for evidence of tampering or for choking hazards. Avoid homemade treats.
Costumes:
- Costumes should be flame-resistant.
- Swords, knives and other costume accessories should be soft and flexible.
- Reflective tape should be put onto costumes and bags to make children more visible to drivers at night.
- Costumes must be short enough to prevent children from tripping and falling.
- Children should wear well-fitting, comfortable shoes.
- If a child is going to wear cosmetics, test the makeup in a small area first.
- If wearing a mask, ensure that the mask is securely fit and has eyeholes that allow full vision.
Trick-or-Treaters:
- Carry a flashlight if you are walking at night to easily see and be seen.
- Do not enter a home or apartment unless accompanied by an adult.
- Walk, not run when going from house to house. Additionally, be careful not to run out from between parked vehicles, or on lawns and yards with uneven terrain or unseen objects.
- Walk on sidewalks when possible. If a sidewalk is not available, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic.
- Look both ways before crossing the street and use crosswalks when possible.
- MDFR wishes parents and children a fun and safe Halloween. For more information, please contact MDFR’s Public Affairs Bureau at 786-331-5200.
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