Halloween Safety SPRINGFIELD, IL (wqub) - State Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold today gave some helpful tips to make sure kids across Illinois have a safe Halloween.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), four times as many children age 5 to 14 years of age die on Halloween evening due to accidents and falls compared to any other evening.

Parents should also make sure their child's costume is safe. Children should be able to walk, see and be seen in their costumes. The costume should be short enough to prevent tripping and falling and be made of light-colored material and include reflective tape.

TREATS
Parents should inspect all treats and throw away any unwrapped or loosely wrapped items.
Homemade items or baked goods should be discarded unless you personally know who gave them.
Parents of young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies and small toys.
Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering.

COSTUMES
Should be bright, reflective and flame retardant.
Use face paint instead of masks, which can interfere with a child's vision, or wear masks that are well-fitting with eye- and ear-holes that do not obscure sight or hearing.
The child's name, address and telephone number should be attached to their clothing.


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