Witches, goblins and ghouls, oh my! Halloween is approaching fast. Halloween is one of the largest party days of the year – following New Year’s Day and the Super Bowl – with a huge percentage of adults joining children in the festivities. But Halloween can be a dangerous holiday. Here are some things to consider ensuring that your family’s celebration goes off without a hitch.
- Parents, check your child’s candy before letting them eat it. While the whole razor-blade-hidden-inside thing is largely a myth, it is still a good practice not to let your kids eat anything that appears tampered with.
- Jack o’ lanterns are great decorations, but can present a fire hazard. Make sure they are placed away from doorsteps or landings to prevent them from catching your house or your child’s costume on fire. Also, be careful letting your children carve them. Show them the best practices for using a knife, like never pointing it toward another person and cutting away from the body.
- Make sure your child’s costume fits well and doesn’t drag on the ground. This can prevent tripping when your child is trick-or-treating. Additionally, make sure masks are secured tight and your child can see out of them. If the costume comes with something like a knife, it should be made of soft, flexible and collapsible material.
- The biggest danger your child faces on Halloween is being hit by a car. Nighttime trick-or-treating, dark costumes and the fact that your child is out in the streets create a recipe for potential disaster. Additionally, since Halloween is so widely celebrated by adults, you may have to worry about drunk drivers in your neighborhood. Make sure your child is wearing something bright, reflective or glowing and keep them away from the street when possible.
Be safe Nashville, and Happy Halloween!
Romans 13:12, “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”