Halloween Safety Tips + SPAR's "Not So Scary Halloween"

Dressing up. Going door-to-door. Taking home a haul of candy. It's the joy of Halloween for kids in the SBC.

But the best way to make sure you have a Happy Halloween is to make sure it's a safe one.

Here are some tips from the Shreveport Fire Department on how to keep your little trick-or-treater (and others) safe this Hallow's Eve:

Costume Tips

• Only use flame retardant costumes.
• Children should wear white, reflective clothing, or use reflective tape and carry a flashlight or a glow stick.
• Costumes should fit properly. Avoid loose or baggy costumes.
• Avoid any type of open flame while wearing costume.
• Materials made of 100% polyester or mod-acrylics are best for making homemade costumes. They are less flammable.

Parental Tips

• An adult should always accompany children under 12 years of age.
• Do not use open flame candles in jack-o-lanterns. Commercially available battery flashlights are much safer and do not pose a fire hazard.
• Parents should never let their children carve a pumpkin unsupervised.

Tips for Motorists

• Be aware of children darting out between parked automobiles.
• Use caution while entering and exiting driveways.
• During twilight and evening hours, be mindful of children in dark costumes.

Home Safety Tips

• Never cover light bulbs with paper or other combustible materials.
• Keep decorations away from sources of heat.
• Decorating with candles should be avoided.
• When decorating, remember to keep exits clear.
• Use flashlights instead of candles to decorate walkways and yards.
• Always keep jack-o-lanterns and hot electric lamps far away from drapes, decorations, flammable materials, or areas where children and pets will be standing or walking.

When Trick-or-Treating

• Do not trick-or-treat alone. Go with parents or another adult.
• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.
• Never enter a stranger’s home or car for a treat.
• Children should not dart or dash into the street when going from house to house.
• No treats are to be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an adult at home.
• Stay in a group, walk slowly and communicate where you are going.
• Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations.

• For more Halloween safety tips, go HERE or HERE.

IN OTHER HALLOWEEN NEWS:

SPAR will be hosting safe treating family-fun events all over the city from 5 to 8 pm. Here are the locations for the "Not Too Scary Halloween." It will have games, a spacewalk, a costume contest and prizes. It's a great (and FREE) way to keep the kids safe:

Hattie Perry, 4300 Ledbetter St., (673-7810)
AB Palmer, 547 E. 79th Street (673-5336)
Airport Park, 6500 Kennedy Drive (673-7803)
Andrew Currie, 1600 Norma Street (673-7805)
Bilberry, 1902 Alabama Street, (673-5345)
Bill Cockrell, 4109 Pines Road (629-4185)
Sunset Acres, 6700 Quilen Avenue (673-7825)
David Raines, 2920 Round Grove (673-5342)
Hollywood Hgts, 4815 McDaniel Dr (673-7811)
Lakeside, 2200 Milam St (673-7812)
Mamie Hicks, 200 Mayfair Dr (673-6416)
Querbes, 3500 Beverly Pl (673-7816)
Chris Hays, 4300 Illinois St (673-7813)
Valencia, 1800 Viking Dr (673-6433)
Southern Hills, 1002 Bert Kouns (673-7818)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!