Tips from St. John Ambulance to Keep Your Kids Safe this Halloween
October 25, 2010 (Toronto, ON) – Vampires, witches and goblins, oh my! There may not be much you can do to protect your children from the supernatural ghouls that cut loose on Halloween, but there are plenty of steps you can take to keep them safe from the more tangible dangers out there. These safety tips from St. John Ambulance will help ensure you and your kids have a safe and fun Halloween.
Choosing a Costume:
- It’s All About Fit: Make sure your child’s costume is big enough to fit easily over warm clothing in case of cold weather, but not so loose as to cause tripping.
- Eyes, Ears, Mouth & Nose: When choosing a mask, be cautious - make sure it does not obstruct the child’s sight or hampers their breathing or hearing. Child-safe makeup and face paint are generally a safe alternative.
- The Brighter the Better: Choose costumes with bright colours, or add reflective tape so children are more visible to passing motorists.
- Beware of Fire: Select costumes and accessories that are flame resistant, but remember, this does not necessarily mean the material will not catch fire. Reduce the risk by avoiding billowing sleeves or flowing skirts and of course, open flames.
Trick or Treating:
- Feed Your Monster: Before sending kids off trick-or-treating, feed them a nice healthy dinner; this will help them avoid snacking on uninspected candy.
- Supervise their Route: Younger children should not be allowed to go out without adult supervision. Older children should be encouraged to go out with friends for safety. If your children are trick-or-treating in your neighborhood, set up checkpoints with other parents to monitor their progress.
- Stay Visible: Advise children to only visit well-lit homes – avoid unlit homes, or ones with an entrance that cannot be seen from the sidewalk. Discourage them from going inside a house or car.
- Remember Street Safety: Children should only cross the street at corners or crosswalks and make sure they remember to look both ways. Remind them to stay on the sidewalk or the very edge of the road facing traffic to avoid cars.
- Drive Carefully: Kids will be kids so adults must be extra vigilant when driving – go slow and pay attention when pulling in/out of driveways or driving through residential areas.
For over 125 years, St. John Ambulance has been training over 140,000 Ontarians annually in first aid and other health care related courses and remains dedicated to saving lives at work, home and play. With over 4,000 volunteers contributing over half a million hours of community service a year, St. John Ambulance is an integral part of the community offering such unique and innovative programs as; medical first response, disaster response, car seat clinics, health and safety related youth programs and therapy dog services. As a charitable, humanitarian organization, proceeds from St. John Ambulance’s first aid training and first aid product sales directly support these vital community services programs. For more information on St. John Ambulance training courses and volunteer opportunities or to contact your local branch, visit
www.sja.ca/on