Red Cross Trick-or-Treat Tips

Local Red Cross Offers “Trick” to 

Safety this Halloween Follow 

the “Lucky 13” 

 Ghouls and goblins will take over the night. But even scary creatures need to be safe and celebrate Halloween right. Halloween’s greatest hazards aren’t vampires and villains, but falls, costume mishaps and automobile collisions. American Red Cross, Serving Sonoma, Mendocino & Lake Counties, is helping all families to have a safe Halloween so Red Cross by providing these tips, the “Lucky 13.”

•             Map out the route where older children will be, so adults are assured they will return home safely.

•             From the bravest of superheroes to the noblest of knights, everyone should remember to bring their flashlights.

•             If older children are going to a stranger’s house, they should accept treats only at the door and they should be told never to go inside.

•             Use face paint instead of masks. Masks make it more difficult to see and avoid falls.

•             Children and accompanying adults should wear light-colored clothing to be seen in the dark. Use reflective tape, even on bikes, skateboards and brooms.

•             Whether they walk, slither or sneak, everyone should stay on sidewalks and not in the street.

•             Be sure children are reminded to look both ways before crossing the street, and to cross from the corner. Wigs, capes and costumes are flammable attire, so children and adults in costume should avoid open flames to prevent a fire.

•             Use a glow stick instead of a candle to see safely and prevent fires.

•             Whether they fly on a broom or a space ship from Mars, but children should be on the lookout for drivers in cars! They should never hide between parked vehicles.

•             Monsters and zombies should stay off the lawn, and only visit homes with their porch lights turned on.

•             Children may be dressed as a werewolf, a cat or a frog, but they should be cautious around strange animals, especially dogs.

•             Adults should inspect all candy when trick-or-treating is done to remove open packages and choking hazards before eating.

To read more Halloween safety tips for motorists, parents and homeowners, visit www.redcross.org. For information on the local Red Cross Halloween fundraiser, “Get gory and help the American Red Cross,” go to www.arcsm.org.

ABOUT AMERICAN RED CROSS, SERVING SONOMA, MENDOCINO & LAKE COUNTIES

American Red Cross, serving Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties, is a neutral, humanitarian organization that provides relief to victims of disasters, and prepares people to prevent and respond to emergencies. Like all Red Cross chapters, the local chapter is self-sustaining and is funded by local contributions. All assistance to disaster victims and to members of the armed forces provided by the Chapter is free and made possible by voluntary donations of time and money by the people of Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties. Donations can be made atwww.arcsm.org, www.redcross.org, via mail to American Red Cross, 5297 Aero Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, or by phone at (707) 577-7627 (Sonoma County), (707) 463-0112 (Mendocino County), or (707)263-8451 (Lake County).