The statewide California Poison Control System (CPCS) urges
parents to follow these Halloween safety precautions to assure that
kids enjoy the fun of trick-or-treating without running into
holiday hazards:
The statewide California Poison Control System (CPCS) urges parents to follow these Halloween safety precautions to assure that kids enjoy the fun of trick-or-treating without running into holiday hazards:
Tips for trick or treating:
• An adult should accompany young children, and Halloween visits should be limited to familiar, local neighborhoods.
• Walkways and lawns should be made safe by removing obstacles and leaving outside lights on.
•Stay away from barking dogs or other upset animals.
• Carry a flashlight after dusk and watch for cars.
• Wear brightly colored costumes that are made of flame-retardant materials. Use reflective tape on costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
•Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.
• Look both ways before crossing the street.
• Cross the street only at corners.
• Don’t hide or cross the street between parked cars.
• Carry a flashlight.
• Keep away from open fires and candles.
• Visit homes that have the porch light on.
• Accept your treats at the door and never go into a stranger’s house.
• Be cautious of animals and strangers.
Treats:
• Feed children before they go trick-or-treating. Give them a small amount of candy or other food to eat while trick-or-treating, so they won’t be tempted to eat from the bag before their treats can be checked.
• Parents should inspect all treats before they are eaten.
• Eat only those treats in original, unopened wrappers. Throw away candy if wrappers are faded, have holes or tears, or signs of re-wrapping.
• Throw away all unwra-pped candy.
v Check fruits and homemade treats carefully to make sure that foreign objects such as pins, tacks and razor blades are not present.
• Drugs can look like candy. Anything that looks suspicious should be thrown away.
• Food that is “off-color” or doesn’t smell right should be thrown away.
• Some treats, especially ch-ocolate, can be poisonous to pets.
Halloween also means parties for parents. Parents should make sure all alcohol and cigarette butts are cleaned up. These items can poison small children.
If any child becomes sick after eating a Halloween treat, seek immediate medical attention. If possible, take the remains of the suspected food or candy to help medical professionals determine the cause of the illness. If you suspect someone has been poisoned, call the California Poison Control System. The 24-hour toll-free emergency number is 1-800-876-4766.
