Kids need to know Halloween precautions

NEW YORK, Oct. 14 (UPI) —

As Halloween approaches, many U.S. parents may wonder if trick-or-treating is safe, but a pediatrician suggests a few precautions can ensure a fun holiday.

Dr. Luz Adriana Matiz, a pediatrician at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, suggested children limit trick-or-treating to familiar neighborhoods and neighbors.

"It’s important not to create too much fear in your children when you speak to them about Halloween safety," Matiz said in a statement. "But it’s also essential that they understand that precautions must be taken."

Matiz said every parent should remember to:

— Always go trick-or-treating with your children. Do not let your children enter a stranger’s home or apartment; have them ask for the treats while waiting outside the door.

— Do not let children eat any candy before they get home and it is examined.

— Make sure your children throw away any unwrapped foods or candies.

— Make sure costumes are made of non-flammable material and are short enough so children don’t trip.

— Make sure the eye holes of masks are the right size and in the right place so that vision is not blocked. Better yet, use makeup instead.

— Have children old enough to go trick-or-treating go in groups, even if only on your block or in your building.

— Make sure costumes are bright in color or have them wear reflectors.

— Have kids take a flashlight if children are walking on dark streets. If they are walking in apartment buildings, parents should accompany them inside.