Tag Archives: Trick or Treat

Tips to Help Keep This Halloween a Treat

Posted on by
Reply

By Sam Pudelski, American Red Cross volunteer

It’s Halloween season here in Northern Ohio, and while kids are prepping to get tons of treats, adults should also prepare to make the evening a safe and fun event. Here are 10 things to keep in mind when trick-or-treating this holiday.

  1. Make sure trick-or-treaters can see and be seen. Use face makeup instead of masks, which can make it hard to see when wearing them. Make sure trick-or-treaters can be seen be using a flashlight to light their way, adding reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags and wearing light-colored clothing.
  2. Use costumes that are flame-resistant.
  3. Never let children trick-or-treat alone. A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children door-to-door. Make sure adults know where kids are going and do not get too far ahead.
  4. Be cautious around animals, especially dogs.
  5. Walk, don’t run from door to door. Avoid walking in the street and stick to sidewalks. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic. When crossing the street, stop and look both ways. Don’t cross between parked cars. If trick-or-treating in a city, do not take alleyways.
  6. If you are driving, use extra caution. Kids may forget to look both ways before crossing amongst all of the excitement.
  7. Only visit homes that have a porch light on. Accept treats at the door and never go inside a home. Before eating goodies, make sure adults check all of them, removing loose candy, open packages and any choking hazards. Throw away any items with brand names you are not familiar with.

If you are handing out goodies at your home for trick-or-treaters:

  • Light the area well so visitors can see where they are walking.
  • Clear obstacles someone can trip over. Sweep leaves from steps and sidewalks.
  • Use caution when carving pumpkins. Adults should do the carving, and young kids should draw the face on the pumpkins instead of doing the carving. Do not use a candle to light a pumpkin. Opt for a flashlight or glowstick instead.

With these tips, we hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween! For more tips on first aid, weather alerts and more, download our American Red Cross apps by searching for the Red Cross in your app store or visiting redcross.org/apps.

Red Cross offers Halloween safety steps as pandemic continues

Posted on by
Reply

Trick-or-treating is back this Halloween, however the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic means there are extra factors to consider when planning your activities. The American Red Cross offers these tips and more to help keep you and your loved ones safe.

“Halloween is one of the most popular holidays in the U.S. and with most communities returning to normal activities this school year, people should expect a higher volume of visitors in search of tricks and treats,” said Mike Parks, Regional CEO, American Red Cross of Northern Ohio. “Whether you’re handing out goodies or going door-to-door, with just a few simple considerations you can make sure your family and those around you are safe and sound.”

Here are the top tips for parents to keep in mind while getting their kids ready for Halloween this year:

  1. Make your cloth mask part of your costume. A costume mask is not a safe substitute for a cloth mask. Avoid wearing a costume mask over a cloth mask as it can make breathing difficult.
  2. Plan outdoor activities and avoid indoor events where the risk of virus transmission is higher.
  3. Bring hand sanitizer with you while trick-or-treating and use it after touching objects or other people. Wash your hands when you get home.
  4. Avoid trick-or-treating in large groups, and social distance from others around the neighborhood.
  5. Make sure trick-or-treaters can see and be seen. Give kids a flashlight to light their way and consider adding reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
  6. Plan the trick-or-treat route in advance and make sure adults know where their children are going. A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children door-to-door. 
  7. It’s not only vampires and monsters people have to look out for. Be cautious around animals, especially dogs.
  8. Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street. Avoid running. Look both ways before crossing the street, and cross only at the corner. Don’t cross between parked cars.
  9. Only visit homes that have a porch light on, and never go inside.
  10. Make sure a grown-up checks the goodies before eating. Make sure to remove loose candy, open packages and choking hazards. Discard any items with brand names that you are not familiar with.

For those planning to welcome trick-or-treaters to their homes, follow these safety steps:

  • Give out treats outdoors, if possible.
  • Avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters by setting up an area with individually bagged treats for kids to take. Wash your hands before handling treats.
  • Maintain social distancing and wear a cloth mask.
  • Light the area well so young visitors can see.
  • Sweep leaves from your sidewalks and steps. Clear your porch or front yard of obstacles someone could trip over.

Trick or treat dates and times vary; in Northeast Ohio, check here and in Northwest Ohio, here. You can also visit your city’s website for specific information.

Download the free Red Cross First Aid app for instant access to expert advice in case your ghost, goblin or superhero has a mishap. Use the Emergency app for weather alerts and to let others know you are safe if severe weather occurs. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps. 

With Halloween coming, stay safe as you don your costumes and go out to Trick-or-Treat

Posted on by
Reply

The Red Cross is offering the following tips to help make this Halloween safe.

Halloween’s greatest hazards aren’t vampires and villains, but falls, costume mishaps and traffic accidents.

Halloween’s greatest hazards aren’t vampires and villains, but falls, costume mishaps and traffic accidents.

TRICK OR TREAT

  • Look for flame-resistant costumes.
  • Plan the Trick-or-Treat route and make sure adults know where children are going. A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children as they make their way around the neighborhood.
  • Make sure the Trick-or-Treaters have a flashlight. Add reflective tape to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags. Have everyone wear light-colored clothing in order to be seen.
  • Visit only the homes that have a porch light on. Accept treats at the door – never go inside.
  • Consider using face paint instead of masks, which can cover the eyes and make it hard to see.
  • Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic. Look both ways before crossing the street and cross only at the corner. Don’t cut across yards or use alleys. Don’t cross between parked cars.
  • Be cautious around pets and any other animals.

 WELCOMING GHOSTS AND GOBLINS

If someone is welcoming Trick-or-Treaters at their home, they should make sure the outdoor light is on. Other safety steps include:

  • Sweep leaves from the sidewalks and steps.
  • Clear the porch or front yard of any obstacles that a child could trip over.
  • Restrain any household pets.
  • Use a glow stick instead of a candle in the jack-o-lantern to avoid a fire hazard.

 People can also download the Red Cross First Aid App at redcross.org/apps to get access to life-saving information on what to do for common, everyday first aid emergencies.