HALLOWEEN NIGHT SAFETY CHECKLIST from Arizona Childproofers

Halloween is only 3 days away!

Click here to download a FREE HALLOWEEN NIGHT SAFETY CHECKLIST and Safety Rules from @AZChildproofers!!!! Keep our kiddos safe on this SpOoOoKiEsT night of the year.

https://bit.ly/3jIuvY2

480-634-7366 www.azchildproofers.com

Fun and Safe Halloween Alternatives

Halloween is only a couple weeks away!

Here are some great tips and alternatives for a fun and safe Halloween.

Mark your calendars for a special Halloween Safety class with Arizona Childproofers next week on 10/27!

480-634-7366 www.azchildproofers.com

SIDS, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month 2020

Important Dates

SIDS AWARENESS MONTH 
PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH
10/4 - 10/10 Fire Prevention Week
10/9 - 10/15 Baby Loss Awareness Week
10/23 Breast Cancer Now's WEAR IT PINK DAY
10/31 Halloween

It's FALL YA'LL!

October can be an exciting time for children and adults alike!  The weather is cooling down, spooky decorations are being put up, and kids are deciding on their costumes and dreaming of sugar! This month's blog is providing some trick-or-treating tips for a fun night to remember. We are also raising awareness about SIDS and how to reduce the risk. We hope this information helps you and keeps your little pumpkins safe.  

According to Safe to Sleep, 

• SIDS is a sudden and silent medical disorder that can happen to an infant who seems healthy.
• SIDS is sometimes called "crib death" or "cot death" because it is associated with the time when the baby is sleeping. Cribs themselves don't cause SIDS, but the baby's sleep environment can influence sleep-related causes of death.
• SIDS is the leading cause of death among babies between 1 month and 1 year of age.
• About 1,360 babies died of SIDS in 2017, the last year for which such statistics are available.
• Most SIDS deaths happen in babies between 1 month and 4 months of age, and the majority (90%) of SIDS deaths happen before a baby reaches 6 months of age. However, SIDS deaths can happen anytime during a baby's first year.

Ways to Help Protect your Baby from SIDS

1. Ensure the crib is properly assembled.
2. Always place baby on their back to sleep.
3. Remove everything from the crib other than the mattress and fitted sheets (i.e. stuffed animals, pillows, blankets and bumpers.)
4. Use a firm mattress.
5. Do not overdress your baby when they sleep. 
6. Use a sleep sack, not sheets.
7. Baby sharing parents room for at least the first 6 months can reduce the risk of SIDS.
8. Baby should not sleep with other infants in the crib or in a bed/on a couch with adults.
9. Keep a pollutant/ smoke-free room. 
10. Breastfeeding or using expressed milk for the first 6 months can reduce the risk of SIDS.
11. Limit baby's exposure to persons who have colds or other respiratory infections.

 

CDC Safety Tips

Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.

Wear masks

• Wear a mask at all times when around people who don’t live in your household to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
• Avoid singing, chanting, or shouting, especially when not wearing a mask and within 6 feet of others.

Do not use costume masks in place of cloth masks

• Do not use a costume mask (such as for Halloween) as a substitute for a cloth mask unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers your mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around your face.
• Do not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.

Social distance and limit close contact

• Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet or more from people you don’t live with. Be particularly mindful in areas where it may harder to keep this distance, such as restrooms and eating areas.
• Avoid using restroom facilities at high traffic times, such as at the end of a public event.
• Minimize gestures that promote close contact. For example, do not shake hands, elbow bump, or give hugs. Instead wave and verbally greet others.

                  

Halloween Safety Tips

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

•  EAT A HEALTHY MEAL 
•  REVIEW the safety rules (see below)      
•  DO a safety check on the costumes to be sure everything works, there are no tripping hazards and if  wearing a mask the child can see forward and sideways

HALLOWEEN NIGHT SAFETY RULES

• NO running      
• Stay with the group 
• KIDS UNDER 12 should 'Trick or Treat" and cross streets  with an adult at corners and crosswalks. 
• Establish a route you will be going on   
• Stay on the sidewalk, do not dart into the street 
•  LOOK BOTH WAYS before crossing the street   
•  WATCH FOR CARS turning or backing up.   
•  Stop at only familiar houses and only those with a porch light on.      
•  NEVER go inside a house to get a treat, stay on the porch       
•  Don't play near lit Jack 'O Lanterns
•  No eating candy till you get home and check it    

CANDY

•   Try to get reflective candy bags or buckets to make kids more visible
•   INSPECT all candy BEFORE your child eats even one piece                       
  • Toss candy with faded wrappers,  with holes or tears or no wrapper at all
  • Remove candy that can be a choking hazard especially for those under 3 years old 
• DO NOT eat food products - from people you don't know, set aside and discard later
• LIMIT the amount of candy your child eats to avoid a  tummy ache
• Keep the candy up and out of the way

DRIVING

• SLOW DOWN... especially in residential  neighborhoods
• BE ALERT! Children are excited on Halloween 
• TAKE EXTRA TIME to look at intersections, medians, and curbs
• Enter and exit driveways or alleys carefully and slowly
• ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS inside your car - be hyper vigilant
• Turn headlights on early to see children sooner

DO NOT drink and drive.  DO NOT talk on the phone or text and drive. WATCH for kids!

See  LOWER, MODERATE, and HIGHER Risk Activities suggested by the CDC here.

Give us a call for more information at:

480-634-7366

or contact us through:

www.azchildproofers.com

Halloween Costume Tips

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS for COSTUMES

from

Arizona Childproofers

HALLOWEEN....what a fun time of year for many.  Children LOVE to dress up.  Parents LOVE to dress up.  The excitement of So much candy can be just a little overwhelming.  When I was a little girl my mother made my costumes and we were able to run around the neighborhood with lots of freedom.

In today's world there are so many things to consider, plus the safety of our children being able to just run around the neighborhoods is not really an option anymore.  So, what are we supposed to do?  How can we keep the whimsical part of this tradition and have fun?  Here are a few simple things to follow and remember as October 31st is approaching and you are getting your costumes together

THINGS TO CONSIDER AS YOU PREPARE YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

1.  Fabric Should be Fire Retardant

      a.  If your costume is homemade....use fabrics that are Fire Retardant 

2.  Keep Costumes Short - this is to avoid Tripping

       a.  Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween

3.  Put Reflective Tape on Costumes and/or Glow Sticks/Jewelry

       a.  You want Drivers AND Others to see your little ones

4.  Comfortable Shoes are a must!

       a.  Trick or Treating is NOT a time for Cute Shoes 

5.  Avoid MASKS

       a.  If a Mask is a must.....make sure the EYES HOLES are LARGE and there is a nose hole for breathing and mouth hole for talking/breathing

       b.  Masks make it hard for peripheral vision and can cause tripping or not seeing an on coming car

       c.  Full masks impair hearing

6.  Face Make Up - MUCH safer than Masks

       a.  Test the make-up or face paint before you use to make sure your child does not have any reactions to the product

        b.  Keep Make-up remover wipes with you

7.  Keep the Costume Loose so that warm clothes can be worn under it

       a.  It can get chilly while Trick or Treating and you don't want your little one to be uncomfortable

8.  Assessories

       a.  Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or another flexible materials.  Children should NOT carry sharp objects.  They or others could get hurt.

       b.  Bags or sacks carried should be light colored or trimmed with reflective tape or lights.

       c.  Flashlights, glow sticks and LED lights are a great added accessories - kids love them and they will be able to see AND be seen more clearly

9.  Practice Walking, Running and Playing in the costume BEFORE you go out

      a.  You will find what you need to fix to prevent a fall or costume malfuntion

10.  Costumes for under Three Yrs Old

       a.  Avoid Chocking hazards - things that can be pried off and get into the mouth of a baby/toddler.  i.e. buttons, bling, patches, decorations, etc

Watch for our next blog on Safety Tips for Halloween Night

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact

ARIZONA CHILDPROOFERS

www.azchildproofers.com        info@azchildproofers.com

480-634-7366

Childproofing, Pool Fences, Car Seat Safety, Senior Safety

Community Education

Sources:

www.azchildproofers.com

www.safekidsworldwide.com

www.iafcs.org