Extension Report

Baldwin County Extension Office

302A Byrne Street

Bay Minette, AL  36507

Telephone (251) 937-7176 or

928-0860/943-5611 ext. 2222

FAX (251) 937-7285

Carolyn Bivins

Regional Extension Agent

Human Nutrition, Diet & Health

October 27, 2009

Trick or Treat Safety

Halloween is a cherished tradition for many but the excitement of the night can cause children to forget to be careful.  There is no real “trick” to making Halloween a real “treat” for the entire family.  The major dangers are not from witches or spirits but rather from falls and pedestrian/car crashes.  Many communities officially designate a “Beggars Night” and assign specific hours for trick-or-treat.  Adults and children need to think about “safety” on this annual day of make-believe.  Check your Community’s Calendar of Events for times of fun Halloween activities.  Keep safe and enjoy the day.  Here is a list of trick or treating safety tips for your family:

Have a plan before you start.  Only go to houses that are well lit - in other words don’t knock on doors where the lights are  not on.  Wear clothing with reflective tape (you can find reflector tape and paint at your local home improvement store), that does not drag on the ground.  Shoes should be comfortable.  Go out before dark – especially for little ones.  The big kids tend to flood the streets later at night making it hard for little ones to trick or treat.

Never go into a stranger’s house, even if they ask you to come in while they go and get some candy.  Throw away all homemade or unwrapped treats.  I know some people work hard on making great homemade treats.  Remember most cases of kids finding razor blades in their candy or popcorn is an urban legend.  However, in this day and time it’s not worth the risk!

When walking down the street, have an adult walk closest to the street and the children close to the houses.  Caution children about running ahead of the adults – it’s very easy for children to get carried away and accidentally run into the street.

Never allow children to pet strange animals while trick or treating.  Though you really shouldn’t ever pet someone’s pet without being invited to do so; you especially should not during trick or treating where your costume or other costumes may be irritating or confusing to the animal.

Do not allow children to eat any of their treats as you go.   When you get home, have an adult check all the candy before allowing children to eat any of it.  You are looking for: *old worn wrappers *torn wrappers (even with the smallest hole) *homemade treats *unwrapped treats * toys with small parts that may be a choking hazard *money (change) *fruit *any candy that looks like it may have been tampered with.  *For small children, remove any hard candies.  They tend to become slick once in the mouth and can quickly become a choking hazard.      Source: W.S. Neal Elementary School PTO Newsletter.

Trick, Treat or Toy?

Researchers from Yale University’s Center for Eating and Weight Disorders investigated whether children would choose toys over candy when offered both on Halloween.  They observed 284 kids between the ages of 3 and 14 Guess what?  Children were just as likely to choose toys as candy, regardless of gender.  

Non Candy Ideas:

Fun fruits- use stickers and gummy worms to decorate fruit for Halloween

Healthy muffins (packaged- wrapped)

Party favors- Look in the party aisle of your favorite discount store

Stickers

Stamps

Notepads, Erasers

Balls

Services – Face Painting or balloon making

Candy Tips:

Purchase only what you will use; avoid jumbo bags.

Buy at the last minute (price may be reduced)

Choose non-fat candies such as Tootsie Rolls and small lolli pops. Source: Facets, September/October 2008.

 Have a safe and fun Halloween and take lots of pictures!

Email address: cbivins@aces.edu

Phone: 937-7176 or 943-5611, 928-0860, ext. 2222

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity educator and employer.