Tips for a safe Halloween

The Metro Nashville Codes Department prepared the following Halloween safety information and tips that may be useful for trick-or-treaters and their parents on Wednesday night:

With Halloween, we know there will be many little ghouls and goblins on our streets gathering candy and treats in all Nashville neighborhoods.

Here is a safety checklist which you can share with your children and grandchildren. In fact, make them a copy and figure out a
game which will help them remember each tip:

• Have grown-ups make sure your costume is fire-safe (there should be a flameresistant or flame-retardant label on store bought
costumes, wigs and props (such as magic wands, hats, and tails...).

• Be careful if your costume has baggy sleeves or a cape, they could easily catch on fire if you brush against a candle or jack-olantern.

• Be on the look out and stay away from open flames (like candles and jack-o-lanterns).

• If your clothes catch fire, make sure to stop, drop, and roll over and over to put the fire out. It’s always a good idea to practice!

• Make your costume nice and bright so drivers can see you -- use retro reflective tape (when light hits the tape it bounces back), use a glow stick or carry a flashlight.

• Follow the rules of the road. When crossing the street, stop at the curb or edge of the road. Look left, then right, then left again for moving cars before crossing. Kids 10 years old and younger should cross the street with a grown-up.

• Make sure a grown-up goes with you when trickor-treating.

• Lastly, have grow-ups check your candy before you eat it (and don’t forget to brush your teeth afterwards)!