Red Cross Offers “Trick” to Halloween Safety
  

Halloween’s greatest hazards aren’t vampires and villains, but falls, costume mishaps and automobile collisions. The American Red Cross wants your family to have a safe Halloween, so we’re providing these tips – the lucky 13!

• Map out the route that you plan to roam, so adults are assured you will find your way home. 
• From the bravest of superheroes to the noblest of knights, everyone should remember to bring their flashlights!
• If you visit a house where a stranger resides, accept treats at the door and, please, don’t go inside.
• When you get ready to put on your disguise, use face paint versus masks which will cover your eyes.
• Always remember, before you embark, to wear light-colored clothing to be seen in the dark!  (Use reflective tape, even on bikes, skateboards and brooms)
• Whether you walk, slither or sneak, do it on sidewalks and not in the street.
• As you roam through the neighborhood collecting your treats, please look both ways before crossing the street!
• Wigs, capes and costumes are flammable attire, so avoid open flames to prevent a fire.
• Use a glow stick instead of a candle, so your jack-o-lantern isn’t a safety gamble.
• You may fly on a broom or a space ship from Mars, but please be on the lookout for drivers in cars! (No hiding between parked vehicles)
• Monsters and zombies should stay off the lawn and only visit homes with their porch lights turned on.
• You may be dressed as a werewolf, a cat or a frog, but be cautious around strange animals, especially dogs.
• Have a grown-up inspect your candy when you’re done trick-or-treating to remove open packages and choking hazards before eating.

For a detailed list of Halloween safety tips for motorists, parents and homeowners, please contact the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross at 503-284-1234 or visit www.redcross-pdx.org.

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Local Oregon Trail Chapter volunteers respond to residential fires and other disasters an average of every 40 hours. All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from Oregonians. Financial gifts help provide shelter, food, clothing, counseling and other immediate assistance to those in need. Call (503) 284-1234 or visit www.redcross-pdx.org.