Safety Tips to Trick Or Treat in Winnetka, Glencoe and Northfield

Boo! It's almost time...

Earlier:

While you're doling out candy, painting faces and trying to keep the children from bouncing off the ceiling, keep in mind these tips from the Red Cross:

For Parents:

• Make sure kids under 12 go trick-or-treating with a parent or other trusted adult.
• Give kids a flashlight or glowstick and add reflective tape to their costumes to make them more visible to motorists.
• Write your child's name, address and phone number on a piece of paper and pin it to his or her chest.
• Examine candy before kids eat it, and throw out anything unwrapped or opened.

For Kids:

• Stay in neighborhoods you know well and only go to houses with exterior lights on.
• Only accept candy at the door; don't go inside.
• Cross the street only at corners and look both ways for oncoming cars.

For Drivers:

• Slow down and watch for children, especially while backing out of driveways or making turns. 
• If you're driving kids to an event, let them enter and exit the car only from the curb side of the vehicle.

For Candy-Givers:

• Consider the age of the child to whom you're giving candy. Small hard candies can be a choking hazard for little kids.
• Clean up lawn accessories and clear your walkway so kids don't trip.
• Keep Fido and other pets inside.

Have you entered our kids' Halloween costume contest yet? to win a chance to travel to New York or Los Angeles for a two day, three night trip for two that includes a meet and greet with Heidi Klum, plus a donation of $1,031 to a local charity of the winner's choice. Nine runners up will also get a $1,031 donation from Patch to a local charity of their choice.

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