Halloween Safety

Are you going to take your children trick or treating this year?  If yes, we suggest a community sponsored event like a mall, school, party etc.  Door to door in today's day in age is really not safe anymore- especially without an adult or parent present.

I found this great acronym on the CDC website and thought I would share to help keep our trick or treaters safe this year:

Going trick-or-treating?

	Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
	Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
	Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
	Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
	Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don't run from house to house.
	Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
	Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
	Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
	Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
	Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
	Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
	Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit houses. Don't stop at dark houses. Never accept rides from strangers.
	Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

Parents please be sure to examine your children's candy before they consume ANY.  Dispose of any unwrapped candy, apples, etc anything that is not in its original packaging or wrapper.  Examine the wrapped candy for tampering.  Discard any candy with torn or missing wrappers.  Homemade treats also should be discarded unless you know the person who made them.  Homemade treats can make a person sick, even if it is not intentional.  Some hospitals also open their doors to allow candy to be closely examined through and X-ray machine to check for pins, razors, etc.  Lastly, it is important to smell the candy too, a strange odor can also be an indicator, promptly discard any foul smelling items in your bag.  Here is a great article with more specific information: Candy Examination.

For more information visit us online at www.tiains.com.