American Red Cross Offers "Trick" To Safety This Halloween

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 22 Oct 2007 - 13:00 PDT

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Ghouls and goblins will take over the night. But even scary creatures need to be safe and celebrate Halloween right. Halloween's greatest hazards aren't vampires and villains, but falls, costume mishaps and automobile collisions. The Red Cross wants your family to have a safe Halloween so we're providing these tips, the lucky 13:

- Map out the route that you plan to roam, so adults are assured you will find your way home!

- From the bravest of superheroes to the noblest of knights, everyone should remember to bring their flashlights!

- If you visit a house where a stranger resides, accept treats at the door and, please, don't go inside.

- When you get ready to put on your disguise, use face paint instead of masks, which will cover your eyes.

- Always remember, before you embark, to wear light-colored clothing to be seen in the dark! (And remember to use reflective tape, even on bikes, skateboards and brooms!)

- Whether you walk, slither or sneak, do it on the sidewalks and not in the street.

- As you roam through the neighborhood collecting your treats, please look both ways before crossing the street! (And cross from the corner!)

- Wigs, capes and costumes are flammable attire, so avoid open flames to prevent a fire!

- Use a glow stick instead of a candle so your jack-o-lantern isn't a safety gamble!

- You may fly on a broom or a space ship from Mars, but please be on the lookout for drivers in cars! (And don't hide between parked vehicles).

- Monsters and zombies should stay off the lawn, and only visit homes with their porch lights turned on!

- You may be dressed as a werewolf, a cat or a frog, but be cautious around strange animals, especially dogs.

- Have a grown-up inspect your candy when you're done trick-or-treating to remove open packages and choking hazards before eating.

For a detailed list of Halloween safety tips for motorists, parents and homeowners, visit http://www.redcross.org.

The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.

http://www.redcross.org

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