The Food and Drug Administration, CDC, and Consumer Product Safety Commission are offering thirteen lucky tips for a safe Halloween. These tips cover costumes, decorations, and food tips.
First of all, make sure all costumes are made of fire-retardant materials. Wear bright, reflective costumes or add reflective tape. Trick-or-treating in the dark can be hazardous. Wear makeup and hats rather than masks to make sure you can see clearly, test the makeup on your arm first to see if a rash develops, and make sure the makeup is FDA approved. Don’t wear decorative contact lenses unless they are fitted by an optometrist.
For sweet treats, don’t eat candy until it has been inspected at home. Look for torn wrappers, pin holes, discoloration, unusual appearance, or other signs of tampering. It is true that Halloween candy tampering is very rare, if not an urban legend, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Have your kids eat a snack or a meal before heading out, so they don’t eat candy that you haven’t looked over. Tell your kids not to accept or eat any homemade treats or anything that isn’t commercially wrapped. Choking hazards could be a problem, so parents of very young children should remove treats such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.
If you’re throwing a party, always serve pasteurized apple juice and cider. Before bobbing for apples, scrub them under cool running water with a clean produce brush to remove bacteria. And have a happy Halloween!
