Spooky, scary and safe: Tips for a happy and healthy Halloween - The Advocate

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Halloween can be spooky and scary, but it doesn't have to be dangerous.

To keep your children safe and healthy this Halloween, doctors at the American Academy of Pediatrics offer these recommendations for parents:

Dressing up

Wear bright or reflective costumes. Peak trick-or-treating occurs at dusk and after dark. To stay safe, make sure your child's costume can be seen. If your kid chose a black Dracula cape instead of something bright, then apply reflective tape to costumes or candy bags.

Ditch the mask. Masks can block or limit your child's eyesight. Instead, consider using face paint or a hat. If you have time, test the paint on a small patch of skin to ensure it will not cause irritation.   

Avoid decorative contact lenses. Those green zombie eyes or black pupils may complete your costume, but they can irritate your eyes. Never use contact lenses unless prescribed by an eye doctor.

Trick-or-treat safely

Accompany youngsters. Small children should never go trick-or-treating alone. Walk with them and bring a flashlight with fresh batteries. If you feel older kids are safe, plan a route with them and agree on a specific time when they should return home.

Look for a light. Only knock on the doors of houses that have porch lights on. Never let your children go inside a house for a treat or get inside of a car. 

Walk safely. Most Halloween-related injuries happen while walking down the street. Walk in a group on sidewalks. If one is not available, walk on the street's edge facing car traffic. Also, never cut across yards or use alleys. 

Safe at home

Light your jack-o'-lantern safely. Use a flashlight or other electric light to illuminate your carved pumpkin. If you do use a candle, a small votive candle is the safest option. Never leave a lighted pumpkin unattended. 

Clear the yard. Create a safe path for trick-or-treaters by removing toys, decorations or bicycles that kids might trip over on their way to the door. Keep pets in a fenced area or restrain them so they cannot jump on or bite trick-or-treaters. 

Healthy Halloween

Eat before. Have a good meal before trick-or-treating so children will be less likely to fill up on candy. 

Wait to try treats. Don't let your children eat the candy until it has been inspected at home. Tampering with candy is rare, but adults should look for unwrapped or spoiled treats.

Ration candy. Try to make the Halloween haul of candy last a few weeks by dishing out a few treats every couple of days. 

Sell your candy. Portwood Dental will buy your candy to send through Operation Gratitude to American troops overseas. Bring any unopened candy to the office at 9069 Siegen Lane in Baton Rouge between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 1-2, and receive $1 per pound of donated candy, up to five pounds. 

Follow Kyle Peveto on Twitter, @kylepeveto.

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