Long & Foster Insurance Offers Advice for a Safe & Spooky Halloween

Do you remember how much fun it was to get dressed up as your favorite action hero, cartoon character or princess and go trick-or-treating in your neighborhood? If you have kids of your own now, your children can now experience that same joy, and do so safely, with these tips from Long & Foster Insurance, a leading independent insurance agency that represents many of the nation’s top rated insurance companies.

Just as your parents did for you, now it’s your turn to prevent Halloween accidents and injuries by supervising your children closely.

Trick-or-Treating Safety

Remind your kids to walk only on the sidewalk and look both ways before crossing the street.
Make sure you children know that they should never enter someone’s home to receive candy unless you accompany them.
Don’t allow kids under 12 years old to go trick-or-treating by themselves. Also, plan a route with older children before they leave the house, so you know exactly where they are headed.
Remind your children to never approach or get into a car with a stranger offering them candy.
Once your kids get home, inspect their candy and throw away treats that are unwrapped, homemade or suspicious-looking.
Don’t let young kids eat hard candy, gum or items with small ingredients such as peanuts, since these treats are all choking hazards.
If you live near busy roads, consider only allowing your children to trick-or-treat during the day, or accompany them to help keep them safe among fast-moving motorists.

Costume Precautions

Do not let your kids wear baggy, loose or long costumes, which can be difficult to walk in and tripping hazards.
Make sure that you purchase wigs, costumes and accessories that are fire-retardant.
Select face makeup and paint that is labeled as “FDA-approved” or “non-toxic” to prevent allergic reactions.
Place reflective tape on your kids’ costumes and candy buckets if they are going trick-or-treating at night. This will make them more visible to motorists.