Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Of all the holidays, Halloween is one of the most enjoyed by youngsters.  To keep
trick-or-treaters happy and safe, the Alhambra Fire Department offers the following safety reminders, with best wishes for a happy and safe holiday!

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT! 
If the kids insist on going out trick-or-treating, why not try a different form?  Many indoor malls and retail stores offer treats and goodies to kids in costume.  Check the newspaper for special kid-friendly events on Halloween.  These may be safer alternatives to visiting homes of those you don’t know.  Many amusement parks have special month-long events dedicated to this spooky holiday, which can be enjoyed by the whole family.

REMEMBER – SAFETY IN NUMBERS! 
Generally speaking, trick-or-treating in groups, with at least one or two adults along, is much safer (and more fun!) than venturing out alone or with a single companion.  School-age or younger children should never be allowed to go trick-or-treating without an adult to accompany them.

OH, SAY, CAN THEY SEE? 
Make sure children’s costumes are not so elaborate that they cannot see clearly through masks or hats.  They should be able to see all around them, and should not have costumes or shoes that pose a tripping hazard.  When out in the neighborhood at night, carrying a flashlight will allow extra visibility for dark walkways or porch stairs.  If a house is not lit, skip it and go on the next lit house.
 
IT’S YOUR TIME TO GLOW! 
Past injuries on Halloween include many that were related to street traffic.  Having a costume that glows in the dark, or adding reflective markers, will allow you and your children to be seen more clearly by oncoming cars.  Adults should cross the street with children at designated crosswalks to ensure that drivers see them before crossing.
 
TREATS WITHOUT TRICKS! 
It falls to responsible parents to be the designated “Candy Inspectors” for their youngsters.  Before allowing kids to eat anything, inspect the wrappers for tears or any suspicious tampering.  Open the candy and inspect it, if necessary.  “Homemade” is usually a good thing, but not on Halloween when you don’t know who made the treats.  Allow children to eat only packaged, sealed items obtained from reputable, retail outlets.
 
OVER THE LIMIT, UNDER ARREST! 
Holidays always provide good opportunities to party and have a good time.  However, limiting the consumption of alcohol and assigning non-drinking, designated drivers ahead of time, will go a long way to ensuring everyone’s safety.
 
LET CHILDREN DESIGN, NOT CARVE! 
It may be fun and beneficial for children to create personalized pumpkin faces – cute, funny or scary.  But when it comes to real pumpkins, adults make better and safer carvers, and should be the ones to handle knives while children “direct” the creative carving.
 
STOCK UP ON BATTERIES! 
Yes, you can also use them for your earthquake preparedness kits, but for Halloween, battery-operated lighting is a much safer alternative than using candles for decorations.  This is especially true for lighting along outdoor walkways or porches, where they can easily be knocked down or handled by youngsters, resulting in a fire and/or burn hazard.  Many retailers now offer battery-operated Halloween decorations which can be used indoors or out.
 
REMEMBER THE SAFE HOUSES! 
If trouble does arise during a trick-or-treat outing, remember that the Alhambra Police Station
(211 South First Street) and all Alhambra Fire Stations (locations listed below), are designated “SAFE HOUSES.”  Children or adults can come to the front door of the station for help.  If the fire station doors are locked, citizens can simply pick up the red phone, adjacent to the door (no dialing necessary) and an emergency dispatcher will answer quickly to assist them. 

Alhambra Fire Stations are located at:
      301 North First Street
      1215 South  Sixth Street
      2200 West Main Street
      2505 West Norwood Place
 
NO SPA CUISINE ON HALLOWEEN! 
Last, but not least, the grocery store shelves are all stacked and ready – packaged candy of all types, flavors and sizes, just waiting for us to stock up in time for Halloween.  Notwithstanding a special medical condition, it’s the one day that most of us don’t have to eat totally healthy.  Just remember – everything in moderation.