Central Carolina HEALTH - Fall 2010 - (Page 10)

Tips for Parents Make sure your children understand the rules of Halloween safety. Develop a game plan, and agree on the rules ahead of time. Here are some suggestions to get you started: RR Children often want to help carve pumpkins, but little fingers and sharp objects don’t mix. Let your children draw the face on the pumpkin while you handle the carving. Your children may enjoy cleaning out the pumpkin and saving the seeds to bake for a snack. RR When shopping for costumes, check that the material is flame retardant and that your child’s vision won’t be obscured by any part of the costume. Make sure the costume isn’t too long to prevent tripping. If your child is wearing a hat, make sure it won’t slip down over the eyes. RRIf your child is carrying a prop, like a sword, knife or scythe, check that the tip is smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury. RR may want to find an alternative to You going door-to-door, such as going to a mall or community event. You also may want to host a special Halloween party for your children and their friends. RRIt’s not safe to let children go trickor-treating alone. Have a responsible adult or older teen go with smaller children. Older children and teens should go in groups. RRBuy electric lights that mimic candles for your jack-o’-lanterns. If you do use a candle, keep the pumpkin on a sturdy surface away from where the children are likely to stand. Don’t leave a burning candle unattended. RR Teach your children that Halloween is about having fun. Throwing eggs at a house or even toilet-papering trees can be considered vandalism. TreaTs not Tricks Protect from Halloween mishaps with these tips Hey, kids! What are you going to be this Halloween? The latest superhero? A scary ghost or a fairy-tale princess? Halloween is fun. You get to dress up, and people give you free candy. If you plan to go trick-ortreating, here are some tips to help keep you safe: pp Younger children should always have a respon- sible adult or older teenager with them while they trick-or-treat. Plan Ahead pp Plan your route ahead of time and decide with your parents what time you should be home. Only visit the houses of people you know and pp who have turned on an outside light. If the light is off, they are probably away from home or not giving out candy. Never go inside a house to accept candy. pp Choose Your Costume Wisely pp Make sure you can see through masks and hoods. Safety First pp Don’t stand too close to a lighted candle— 10 | FA L L 2 0 1 0 Use nontoxic face paints. Wear something that reflects light. You can add pp reflective tape to your costume and candy bag so that drivers can see you. Carry a flashlight—you can even find one to match your costume! Fun With Friends pp Take some friends along. Going with a group of three or more is much safer than going alone. especially in a jack-o’-lantern. Your costume could catch fire. Whether you are walking or flying a broom, pp watch out for traffic. Stay on the sidewalks, and cross only at intersections. Don’t cross or hide between parked cars. Look both ways before crossing the street. Don’t take shortcuts across alleys or yards. pp pp Have one of your parents or a responsible adult check your candy before eating it. Throw any open packages or homemade treats away. If you have younger brothers, sisters or friends, don’t give them small or hard candies that can choke them.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Central Carolina HEALTH - Fall 2010

Central Carolina HEALTH - Fall 2010
Contents
Health Beat
Journey of Hope
Treats Not Tricks
Surgery Snapshot
Heart Smart
Q+A

Central Carolina HEALTH - Fall 2010