Make Halloween a treat while keeping your children safe

Kayla Kiley | Cadillac News Trick-or-treaters should remember that itŐs hard for drivers to see them. Wear light colored clothes or reflective tape and steer clear of the street. Kids should also, as always, be aware of stranger danger and trick-or-treat at familiar houses.

Being safe on Halloween is a must for both trick-or-treaters and drivers.

While our area has had few accidents on Halloween, it’s always a good idea to refresh your memory about safety procedures on Halloween.

Drivers need to be more alert on this night, drive at very low speeds and keep headlights on one half-hour before dusk and into the night.

Children should be supervised by their parents, and it’s recommended that younger kids go trick-or-treating with their parents prior to night fall.

For many kids with food allergies, the candy is the spookiest part of Halloween, because many common food allergens are found in candy.

If you’re concerned about your children’s safety in terms of food allergies or if you are worried about their health, Dr. James Wilson, medical director at District Health Dept. No. 10, offers an alternative idea: “Parents could buy their kids’ Halloween candy,” he said. And people can also hand out coins instead.

Your little ghouls and boos may love trick-or-treating, but Halloween can be a little spooky for parents and drivers.

Safety needs to be a top priority on this holiday.

“Halloween is a very popular event for children in our neighborhoods and community, and we want everyone to get as much enjoyment and fun out of Halloween as possible, while still keeping in mind necessary safety issues,” said Cadillac director of public safety, Jeff Hawke.

Halloween falls on Wednesday this year, and there is no official start or end time to trick-or-treating.

Driving safety

Drivers need to keep their eyes peeled for children, dressed in pitch-black costumes, darting across streets.

“All drivers need to raise their levels of awareness,” Hawke said. “Drive at very low speeds, and keep headlights on a half-hour before dusk and into night.”

According to Hawke, area drivers do a great job of being aware, because “we’ve had very few accidents over the years.”

Parental supervision

While there will be extra police patrol on Halloween, Hawke said it’s still important for parents escort their kids on trick-or-treating rounds.

“Parents should always have a view of the child, and kids should be aware of stranger danger — don’t get into car with anyone they don’t know or go inside a home,” Hawke said. “That’s why it’s so important for parents to go out trick-or-treating with their kids.”

Hawke also recommended that young kids go trick-or-treating with their parents prior to night fall, in the late afternoon, because “it’s a very safe time” for drivers to see kids. The lighter the sky, the better.

Food allergies

For many of the 3.1 million American children with food allergies, the candy they get while trick-or-treating is the scariest part of Halloween, according to Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network.

“Many of the most common food allergens are found in candy,” said Anne Munoz-Furlong, founder and CEO of Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. “For some children, just one bite of the wrong food can bring on anaphylaxis — a severe allergic reaction that can cause death.”

Eight foods account for 90 percent of all food-allergic reactions in the U.S.: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish. Of these, only the last two are not likely to be found in candy.

If you’re concerned about your children’s safety in terms of food allergies or if you are worried about their health, Dr. James Wilson, medical director at District Health Dept. No. 10, offers an alternative idea.

“Parents could buy their kids’ Halloween candy,” he said.

And people can also hand out coins instead of candy.

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Halloween safety tips