As a child, Halloween is the day of the year when it is conceivable that witches are prowling, vampires lurking, spirits of the departed are haunting and anything can happen.

Wrapped up with these fantastical imaginings are, of course, visions of bags filled to the brim with every kind of candy one could want. And, what adult does not remember the child’s thrill of choosing carefully what one wanted to transform into for the big day?

Along with the fun, there has also always been a backdrop of fright associated with Halloween.

Tales of razor blades in apples, poison in candy and abductions from the dark streets are common around the haunted night of Oct. 31. True or not, these tales do reveal the fear that comes from letting one’s child loose on the night. Many parents respond by accompanying their child, finding a safe location in which he or she can trick- or-treat or sending him or her off with a pack of friends – all reasonable strategies.

Halloween is lurking just around the corner; in two days it will be time for costumed youngsters to go forth into the night in search of candied spoils on which they may snack for days to come.

We encourage parents to be involved in your child’s Halloween exploits. Make it a family affair. And we encourage everybody, with or without children, to remember that this is a night set aside for them – be careful when driving the streets and remember that innocents are on the streets dressed as monsters. Be cautious.

Ensure that this Saturday is a pleasant day for them all.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled 610,000 flashlights sold at Target stores nationwide.

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The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office issued the following press release on Friday:

Soon our streets will be scattered with little ghosts, goblins and witches trick-or-treating this Halloween. “Halloween should be filled with surprise and enjoyment, and following some common sense practices can keep events safer and more fun,” says Cumberland County Sheriff Earl R. Butler.

The Sheriff reminds all Cumberland County residents to follow these safety tips:
Motorists:
• Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
• Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
• At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.
Parents:
• Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.
• Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children’s companions.
• Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
• Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger’s home.
• Establish a return time.
• Tell your youngsters not to eat any treat until they return home.
• Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.
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• Pin a slip of paper with the child’s name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.
Costume Design:
• Only fire-retardant materials should be used for costumes.
• Costumes should be loose so warm clothes can be worn underneath.
• Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard.
• If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light colored materials. Strips of retro-reflective tape should be used to make children visible.

Face Design:
• Masks can obstruct a child’s vision. Use facial make-up instead.
• When buying special Halloween makeup, check for packages containing ingredients that are labeled “Made with U.S. Approved Color Additives,” “Laboratory Tested,” “Meets Federal Standards for Cosmetics,” or “Non-Toxic.” Follow manufacturer’s instruction for application.
• If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes.

Accessories:
• Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.
• Bags or sacks carried by youngsters should be light-colored or trimmed with retro-reflective tape if children are allowed out after dark.
• Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.

While Trick-or-Treating:
• Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision.
• Walk; do not run, from house to house. Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can present tripping hazards.
• Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.
• Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.

Treats:
• Give children an early meal before going out.
• Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten.
• Wash fruit and slice into small pieces.
• When in doubt, throw it out.

Homeowners/Decorations:
• Keep candles and Jack O’ Lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame.
• Remove obstacles from lawns, steps and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.
• Keep candles and Jack O’ Lanterns away from curtains, decorations and other combustibles that could catch fire.
• Do not leave your house unattended.

“Halloween is a fun time in Cumberland County,” Sheriff Butler concluded, “But let’s make it a safe time as well. The major dangers are not from witches or spirits but rather from falls and pedestrian/car crashes. “

According to Safe Kids U.S.A., children are more than two times more likely to die in pedestrian accidents on Halloween than any other day of the year. In 2007, North Carolina saw 22 pedestrian deaths.

While pedestrian hazards pose the biggest threat to children on Halloween, burn injuries remain a concern as families use candles to light jack-o-lanterns and luminaries.
For a safe Halloween follow these safety tips:
 
Safe driving tips:
•        Slow down in residential neighborhoods.
•        Obey all traffic signs and signals.
•        Watch for children walking in the street or on medians and curbs.
•        Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
•        Remember — popular trick-or-treating hours are during the typical rush-hour period, between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
•        Remember that costumes can limit children’s visibility so they may not see your vehicle.
•        Drive with your full headlights on to increase your visibility and spot children from greater distances.

Pedestrian safety tips:
•        Never let children under age 10 go trick-or-treating or cross the street without adult supervision.
•        Decorate costumes, bags and sacks with retro-reflective tape and stickers. Use a flashlight or glow stick to increase visibility to drivers.
•        Use costumes that are light or bright enough to make children more visible at night, and make sure they are flame-retardant.
•        Wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes to prevent trips and falls.
•        Stop at all street corners before crossing; cross streets only at intersections and crosswalks.
•        Look left, right and left again before crossing the street; walk-don’t run, when crossing streets.
•        Never dart out into a street or cross between parked cars.

Fire safety tips:
•        Costumes that are snug or form-fitting are less likely to come into contact with ignition sources.
•        Look for labels that indicate the costume is made of flame-resistant materials.
•        If you are making costumes, choose polyester or nylon fabrics for greater flame resistance. Costumes made from cotton, rayon, acetate or their blends are inherently more flammable.
•        Supervise children as they go trick or treating, taking special care to avoid lit candles and jack-o-lanterns, high heat or flaming decorations.
•        If a costume does catch fire, remember to “Stop, Drop and Roll.”
•        When you decorate for Halloween, use battery operated or electric lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check each set of lights, new or old, for damage. Throw out damaged sets.
•        Do not overload extension cords.

For more information about Safe Kids North Carolina, visit www.ncsafekids.org

Wake Forest police remind families to take safety precautions this Halloween.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Some experts say parents should put a cell phone in their child’s trick-or-treat bucket this year incase of an emergency.  Experts even recommend an inexpensive prepaid cell phone if parents don’t have any extra cell phones.

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