10 things to remember on trick-or-treat night
As wee witches and ghastly ghouls head out tonight to trick-or-treat, here are 10 things to keep in mind for a safe and fun Halloween evening.
1. Be visible
Daylight saving time doesn't end until this weekend, so it will be quite dark already by 6 p.m. Even if you have to wear a winter coat over your costume, wear bright colours and carry a flashlight or glow sticks. Remind trick-or-treaters to look both ways before crossing the street. Drivers may be distracted by streetside goings-on and might not be attentive to jaywalkers right in front of them.
2. Costume safety first
Wear face paint or makeup instead of masks, and make sure children can hear. Also, ensure your costume isn't something you can trip over. Wear costumes labelled as flame-resistant: no paper hospital gowns!
3. Look for teal
If your child has severe allergies or just doesn't like candy, look for homes that have a teal pumpkin or a poster with a teal pumpkin. This indicates the home has treats that are not food.
4. Plan a route
Parents should go with young children as they head door-to-door. Older children and teens should plan a route and let their parents know where they're going, and as scary as it sounds for teens: keep parents informed if plans change.
5. Drive extra-slowly
If you're driving in, near, through or to a trick-or-treat location, or need to run out to get more candy, go slow. Excited children may not take all the necessary precautions when they want to cross the street to the next house. Driving slowly in busy neighbourhoods makes it easier to stop.
6. Skip the novelty contact lenses
The Ontario Association of Optometrists has warned cheap, novelty contact lenses to change the look of their eyes can cause some serious problems for your eyes, from irritation to infection and even blindness.
7. Keep small toys away from tots
Whether it's a treat from a home or a piece of someone's costume, be sure to keep small, swallowable items away from children under the age of 3. The same goes for hard candies, peanuts and chewy candies.
8. Check candy before consuming
Police warn parents to give candy a look before allowing children to eat it. One group says parents probably don't have to worry about dangerous (and expensive) drugs like fentanyl ending up in Halloween candy, though. Still, if something doesn't look right or has been removed for its original packaging, be extra-safe: throw it out.
9. Don't enter homes
If you don't know the homeowner, stay on the porch. Some homes might be darker to give a spooky appearance, but if all the lights are off in the house, chances are they don't have any candy and you should just skip to the next place. Many communities, including Kitchener, Ont. will welcome you at a fire station. Firefighters there will be giving out candy at its eight fire stations between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
10. Bundle up and stay dry
The Environment Canada forecast says there is a chance of showers all evening and the temperature is expected to hover around 3 Celsius around Waterloo region and Wellington County. Check your local weather forecast here.