It’s that time of year again. Where kids get to dress up, trick-or-treat, collect candy from friends and neighbours, and stay out late.
The Vancouver Sun recently reported a story where a man was caught selling drug-laced candy to children. It’s a scary reminder that we must keep our kids safe this Halloween.
The Michigan Children’s Hospital offers this advice for checking your child’s candy:
- Tell children not to eat candy before returning home.
- Inspect candy for tampering before allowing them to eat it – you should look for small holes, tears, or open wrappers.
- Don’t accept or eat fruit or homemade treats.
And to help protect children while they’re trick-or-treating, the CDC offers these tips:
- Don’t let kids under the age of 12 trick-or-treat without an adult.
- Encourage children to cross the street at designated crosswalks and with traffic signals.
- Avoid costumes that have flowing fabric and could be tripped over or catch fire from jack-o-lanterns.
- Put reflective tape on all costumes and carry a flashlight to increase visibility.
- Trick-or-treat in familiar, well-lit neighbourhoods.
Motorists must be extra cautious on Halloween. There will be more excited children and adults on the streets who may not be paying attention. And remember if you have any doubts about your child’s candy, throw it out. Your child’s safety comes first.
