Happy Halloween from United Way of Northern Arizona!
Tonight will be an exciting time filled with costumes, candy, and spooky adventures. But it’s also important to prioritize safety while trick-or-treating.
As you know, one of our organization’s main priorities is stepping up for youth and that includes making sure they are safe.
Whether you’re planning to walk the neighborhood or attend local festivities, these tips will help keep children safe and make Halloween a memorable experience for all the right reasons.
Before Heading Out: Plan for Safety
Make sure costumes are short enough to avoid tripping hazards and that your child can see through any mask. Attaching reflective tape to costumes or treat bags or carrying glow sticks or flashlights will improve visibility.
Have a plan for your route and stick to familiar, well-lit areas. Ensure that younger children are supervised by an adult and set up a curfew for older kids going out alone.
Street Smarts: Stay Safe While Trick-or-Treating
Remind children to walk (not run) from house to house, to use sidewalks where available, and to use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing the street.
Candy Safety: Inspect Before Enjoying
Only allow children to eat pre-packaged candy and avoid homemade treats from strangers. Discard any treats with damaged or opened packaging. If your child has food allergies, look for houses with teal pumpkins, indicating they offer allergy-friendly options. (You might want to bring safe treats along to prevent disappointment.)
Enjoy in Moderation
To avoid sugar overload, set guidelines on how much candy can be enjoyed each day and keep candy out of reach of younger children to prevent accidental overindulgence.
UWNA wishes you a spook-tacular (and safe) Halloween filled with sweet treats and happy memories. |