Information Update - Trick or Treat Time - Put Safety First at Halloween

OTTAWA, Oct. 24, 2014 /CNW/ -

Issue

Halloween is a fun and exciting time for kids. Parents are encouraged to follow some important safety tips to ensure that it is a safe and happy experience for the whole family.

Trick or Treating

• Give each child a flashlight to carry, to make them more visible to motorists and others.
• Tell your children to stay in well-lit areas and only visit homes that have their outside lights turned on. Make sure they know never to go inside homes or cars.
• Avoid costumes that are too big or have long dangling pieces that children can trip over. 
• Use makeup or face paint instead of masks -- improperly fitted masks can interfere with your child's vision or breathing
• Tell your children not to eat any treats until you have looked them over.
• If candy treats are not commercially wrapped, or are found in torn, damaged or loose packages, throw them out!
• Wash your hands before opening and eating candy treats.
• Remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys from the loot bags of young children. Do not let children under three years of age play with any toys containing small parts.
• Wash fresh fruit thoroughly and cut it open before eating it. Inspect for holes, including small punctures and cuts, and if any, do not eat the fruit. When in doubt – throw it out!

Tips for parents – food allergies or sensitivities

• Consider giving out treats that do not contain ingredients like peanuts, tree nuts, milk and egg. These ingredients can cause severe reactions in individuals who have allergies or sensitivities.
• Parents or caregivers of children with food allergies should read labels carefully and avoid candies that do not have an ingredient list, or that have a "may contain" statement for ingredients to which the child is allergic.
• If your child has been prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector because of a food allergy, make sure they have it available whenever they are eating

For more information

You can read more about Halloween safety on the following web pages:

• Halloween Food Safety Tips
• Halloween Safety

Stay connected with Health Canada, and receive the latest advisories and product recalls using social media tools.

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SOURCE: Health Canada

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