How to Have a Healthy and Safe Halloween!

Halloween is one of the greatest holidays! Endless candy and fun costumes… what could be better? But before you rush out the door on the 31^st of October we would like to remind you of some safety tips for Halloween that can save you from having a Halloween catastrophe!

If you are trick-or treating…

1. Cross the street at corners, utilizing traffic signals and crosswalks.
2. Look left, right and left again while crossing streets – make sure to keep looking while you are crossing. Do not look at your phone while crossing the street!
3. Teach your children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
4. Always walk on sidewalks or paths when possible. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic as far left as possible.
5. Be alert for cars that are turning or backing up.
6. Never allow children to trick-or-treat alone, and remind them never to go inside a stranger’s house.
7. Only trick-or-treat at houses with the lights on.
8. Trick-or-treat in familiar neighborhoods and at homes of people you know.

Choose safe costumes…

1. Decorate costumes and bag with reflective tape or stickers, this is especially important on dark costumes.
2. Choose face paint rather than masks that could obstruct children’s vision.
3. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights.
4. When choosing a costume make sure it is fitted properly to prevent trips and falls.

General Halloween safety tips…

1. Slow down and be extra alert while driving, especially in residential neighborhoods.
2. Keep your pets away – the sights and sounds of Halloween may be frightening to them, which could lead to aggressive behavior.
3. Save the homemade treats for another time – put store bought packaged candy out for Trick-or-Treaters.

Another thing to remember is the guidelines for how long you can keep various types of candy:

• Milk and white chocolate: Eight to ten months
• Dark chocolate: One to two years if wrapped in foil and stored in a cool, dark and dry place.
• Hard candy (lollipops and butterscotch candies): Up to one year when stored at room temperature or in cool, dry conditions.
• Candy corn: About nine months while sealed and approximately three to six months after the package has been opened.
• Jellied candies: Up to one year unopened. After opening, keep in a covered candy dish six to nine months.
• Gum: Six to nine months, as long as the packaging is sealed.
• Caramel: Six to nine months when stored at room temperature and away from the heat and light.

Knowing how long candy lasts is important because it is wise to ration your Halloween candy – and your children’s candy, try to make it last for at least a few weeks. Also, if your child has food allergies it is important to check the food and candy labels carefully, and remind children not eat any home-baked goods they may have received.

We hope you have a happy and safe Halloween. Share this blog with your friends and family so they can have a safe Halloween too!