Playing It Safe on Halloween

Halloween is so much fun because it's not like other nights of the year. But because it's a special night, you need to be extra careful. You'll want to remember all the usual rules about crossing the street and not talking to strangers. But you'll also want to keep these Halloween tips in mind:

See and Be Seen
After dark, kids aren't usually swarming the neighborhood. But on Halloween night, they are. That's why kids need to watch out for cars and other traffic. Be sure that your mask or costume doesn't cover your eyes or make it tough for you to see where you're going. You might think about wearing makeup instead of a mask. If you do wear a mask, make sure the eyeholes are big enough that you can see.

Kids also need to be seen on Halloween, so it's a good idea to wear or carry something that glows in the dark. You might choose a glowing necklace, a glow-in-the-dark treat bag, or a flashlight. Your parents also can apply reflective tape to your costume.

Don't Trip!
You want your costume to look cool, but there's nothing cool about tripping and stumbling all Halloween night. Make your costume trip-proof by:

• Making sure it's not too long
• Wearing shoes that fit
• Avoiding swords, canes, and other props that can get in your way

Don't Go Alone
It's best to trick-or-treat with family members or friends. And it's also a good idea to have a grownup with you. A cell phone can be another handy item to have along when you trick or treat. That way, you can check in with a parent or call for help, if needed.

Talk it over with your mom or dad when you're deciding where to trick-or-treat. Sticking close to home is great because then you'll know many of the people and you won't get lost in unfamiliar neighborhoods. And people who already know you just might throw an extra treat in your bag!

When trick-or-treating, avoid going inside a stranger's home. Sometimes a person might invite you in for a treat, but you can just say that your mom or dad asked you not to go inside anyone's house. (Likewise, never go up to or into a stranger's car even if the person offers you a Halloween treat.)

And if you're wondering about whether to go to a certain house, check if the porch light is on. If not, that's usually a sign that they aren't home or they don't want any trick-or-treaters.

Let's Talk Treats
Before you start eating the treats in your bag, you'll want to get a good look at them. When you get home, dump everything out and let your mom or dad see what you have. They can help you get rid of stuff you shouldn't eat. For instance, you don't want to eat anything that's loose or not in a wrapper. Anything unwrapped, including fresh fruit, should be thrown away. Without a wrapper, it's hard to tell if food is clean and safe to eat.

Once you've looked over your treats, you'll probably wonder just how much you can eat. Well, it's best not to overdo it. If you don't eat too much on Halloween, you'll have leftovers to enjoy in the days and weeks to come. In other words, you can make Halloween a little sweeter by making it last a little longer!

This document is used with permission from KidsHealth and can be found at: http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/halloween_safety.html For more information about your behavioral health benefits, you can call the member services or behavioral health telephone number listed on your healthcare identification card.