00:00All right, Halloween is a night for fun, candy, and some scary surprises.
00:05But safety should come first.
00:08Joining us with tips for families is Stephanie Fox, National Media Lead with the American Red Cross.
00:13Thanks so much for being with us.
00:15Looks like some Halloween decorations in the distance there.
00:18And Halloween can be a dangerous night for kids walking outdoors, especially on those streets without sidewalks.
00:24So what can parents do to keep them safe?
00:28Yeah, Ariella, you're totally right.
00:30In fact, kids are twice as likely to be hit by a car during Halloween than any other time.
00:36So it's really important for folks to take extra care as they're trick-or-treating and going through their neighborhoods.
00:41If you don't have sidewalks, sidewalks are obviously the most safe thing to be walking on in a neighborhood.
00:46But if you don't have them, walk as close to the curb as possible.
00:50And when you're going across the street to other houses, make sure you're crossing at an intersection or at a stop sign, somewhere where it's very obvious that you're going to be crossing the street.
01:00Try your very, very best not to cross in between cars and definitely look both ways before crossing the street.
01:05And pretending to costumes, what are some common mistakes parents make when choosing them for their kids?
01:12Yeah, costumes can be really spooky and scary and fun.
01:18But they can also be really dangerous if you're not doing your best to keep your kids safe.
01:24So one of the things you want to make sure is that you're staying away from any open flames.
01:28And that could include jack-o'-lanterns that are across porches and walkways as you're leading up to folks' front doors.
01:34As you're choosing your different Halloween costumes, you also want to make sure that they are flame-resistant.
01:39So if you do happen to go buy a flame, it's not going to catch that on fire.
01:43As you're assessing kind of what the costume looks like, consider maybe wearing face paint instead of a mask and maybe something a little shorter if you're going to do a wig.
01:53Something that's not going to impede the line of sight for your kiddos or anybody that's dressing up.
01:57And of course, just be very, very careful as costumes can be a trip hazard.
02:02So make sure you cut those up so kids can walk safely.
02:05Adults and especially drivers need to be alert on Halloween week.
02:09What safety advice do you have during this day of events and parties?
02:15Yeah, make sure that you are paying very, very close attention as you're driving through areas where there are trick-or-treaters.
02:22Make sure you have your lights on even before it gets dark because you're going to be more seen to both pedestrians,
02:27as well as other vehicles.
02:29So it just adds to the kind of line of sight ability for folks.
02:33And then if you are including any kind of alcohol in your festivities,
02:38make sure that you designate a designated driver or you use a rideshare.
02:43And Halloween can be scary for pets.
02:45How can owners keep them safe and calm during often loud celebrations?
02:51We very much encourage pets as part of the fun,
02:54but we want to make sure that they are safe as well.
02:58There are certain candies and foods that can actually be toxic to pets.
03:01So you want to keep those up and away from the reach of those little mouths and paws.
03:05And you want to make sure that those pets are separate from where the trick-or-treaters or the party-goers may be.
03:11Costumes with masks and, you know, different looks to them could be kind of scary for your fur babies.
03:16So it's easier and better just to keep them completely separate from the situation
03:21and not allowing them to potentially dart out that front door.
03:24And, of course, just in case something does happen with your furry family member,
03:28make sure you have a caller on them with your contact information so they can be returned to you much quicker.
03:33Stephanie Fox, National Media Lead with the American Red Cross.
03:36Thanks again for joining us on AccuWeather Early.
03:38Good tips here ahead of a busy night.
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