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Editorial- Halloween

With Halloween just around the corner, now is a good time to make sure you are taking safety precautions for your children.

With Halloween just around the corner, now is a good time to make sure you are taking safety precautions for your children. I remember as a child thinking that my mom was over-reacting when she would tell me not to eat any candy until she went through it, then I had my own children and told them exactly the same thing as I watched the news and heard of people finding razor blades in their kid’s apples. So precaution number one is to check your kid’s Halloween treats before they eat any.

Beforehand when you are choosing or making a costume, make sure to use light coloured clothing and place strips of reflective tape or stickers along the back and the front so drivers can see your little goblins and princesses and do not use masks that can impair a child’s vision. Make sure costumes fit properly so there are no tripping issues.

If your child is going out with a group of friends think about giving them a flashlight or - welcome to 2013 - a cell phone with a flashlight on it. It can never hurt for your child to carry a cell phone, that way you have direct contact with them at any time. Set a curfew and a pick up spot if your kids are trick-or-treating in an area such as the Airport subdivision or Ridgemont and are not close to home.

Make sure to remind your children that they should never enter a house or get into a stranger’s car. The promise of candy or the lure of a haunted house can tempt even the most aware children.

With all of the excitement kids can easily run across the road without looking both ways so drivers beware, take extra precautions on Halloween night while driving your vehicle. You never know when a little ghost or goblin might jump out in front of your car.

For those that are giving out candy, do not invite a child in out of the cold or to see the really cool skeleton you have in your foyer. It puts children in an awkward position because they know they shouldn’t enter a stranger’s house but they don’t want to insult the person giving them the treats.

Don’t forget to check out the haunted house at 822 9th Avenue with your children, it’s as fun for adults as it is for kids.

Happy Halloween!

 

 



Andrea Horton

About the Author: Andrea Horton

Andrea began her career in the newspaper industry in 2007 as a reporter with The Free Press in Fernie, B.C. In 2017, she relocated to Salmon Arm to work as the publisher of the Salmon Arm Observer.
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