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Parents can banish frightful Halloween perils
By Gina Hill
(CNN) – For kids, Halloween can be one exciting holiday. But dangers can lurk, just like ghosts and goblins. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, found the rate of children hit and killed by cars increases roughly four times on Halloween night. In another study, the CDC said candy was the culprit for 19 percent of all choking-related visits to the emergency room for children under 14 years old in 2001. This happens all year round, but must be kept in mind during Halloween if children stuff themselves with sweets after a good night collecting their hauls. Parents can take steps to put their minds at ease while still allowing the holiday to be fun. Many of those steps can be taken before your child even leaves the house. Getting geared up for Halloween usually starts with pumpkin carving – an activity that should be reserved for older kids, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Young children can draw faces on the pumpkins with markers. With adult supervision, kids age 5 to 10 can participate using pumpkin cutters with safety bars. Jack-o-lanterns lit with candles -- votives are the safest -- should be displayed in a window on a sturdy table, away from curtains, and never left unattended. Then there's the costume. The cardinal rule for costume safety can be summed up in two words: fire-resistant. The label should clearly say if the costume is fire- or flame-resistant.
A costume should be bright and reflective -- consider adding reflective tape to costumes and goody bags. The outfit should fit well enough to avoid tripping; and children should wear masks or makeup that don't limit vision, says the AAP. Don't forget a key safety accessory – the flashlight, and make sure batteries are strong. When it's time to head out, small children should be accompanied by an adult and kids under 10 should trick-or-treat with grown-up or older sibling. If your children are older, make sure they venture out with a buddy or group, outline their route and are aware of their curfew. And SafeChild.net, a Web site sponsored by the Consumer Federation of American, posted pedestrian rules and urges parents to make sure their goblins abide by them. To make sure the visiting ghosts, witches, vampires, pirates and cartoon characters don't hurt themselves, clear away tripping hazards such as flower pots, toys and garden hoses and sweep wet leaves from driveways and walkways. Finally, there's the reward – treats! To avoid the risk of treat overload, parents should give kids a healthy meal before parties or trick-or-treating. Have children resist temptation before diving in and wait until parents can inspect treats. The AAP concedes that tampering is rare, but parents should still throw away spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious treats. SafeChild.net recommends only keeping homemade treats if parents are sure who made them. And as mentioned earlier, be aware of choking hazards. Halloween is supposed to be a scary night. But real fear doesn't have to spoil a childhood tradition. Taking a few precautions still leaves plenty of room for fun.
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