Safe Trick-Or-Treating Tips (NAPSA)}—Oneofthescariest things about Halloween may be the danger that traffic poses for youngtrick-or-treaters. To ensure a “boo-ti-ful” holiday experience, parents should remind kids of the rules for navigating streets and sidewalks. Even though Halloween falls on the nighttheclocks are turned back, kids will still be out while it’s dark. Parents should remind them that: * Children under 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areasthat are well lit. * Children under 10 should always cross the street with an adult. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. * Look left, right andleft again whencrossing and keeplooking as you cross. Walk, don't run,across thestreet. * Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facingtraffic as far to theleft as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings. * Watch out for cars that are turning or backing up. Never dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars. The excitement. of the holiday can be distracting to both drivers and children. “Parents have many concerns on Halloween and we need to remind kids about safety before they head out to trick-or-treat,” says Alan Korn,executive director of Safe Kids USA. OT Wa Decorate darker costumes with reflective material so kids can be seen as they walk. Korn andthechild pedestrian safety experts at Safe Kidsoffer thesetips to keep kids safo: * Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, chooselightcolors. * Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision. * Have kids carry glow sticks orflashlights in order to see better, as well as beseen by drivers. Parents also need to keep in mind that there are other potential hazardsfor children on Halloween. Forinstance, kids should be remindedto only eat treats in original, unopened wrappers and to throw away candyif the wrapper is faded ortornor if the candy is unwrapped. Safe Kids USA and program sponsor FedEx created the Safe Kids Walk This Way program in 1999 to help prevent pedestrianrelated injury to children. For more information, visit usa.safekids.org/Halloween.
