Safe, Spooky Fun: Harder Shares Tips to Keep Pets and Trick-or-Treaters Safe on Halloween
STOCKTON – Representative Josh Harder (CA-9) is sharing Halloween safety tips for pet owners and parents.
“We absolutely love Halloween in my family. As we all get ready for trick-or-treating tonight, I just wanted to share a few reminders for parents on how to keep our kids and pets safe as we enjoy the fun,” said Rep. Harder.
Child Safety
Make a plan.If your kids are old enough to trick-or-treat on their own, make sure you have a plan so you know where they’ll be, who they’re with, and what time they will come home.
Remind them regular safety rules still apply.Halloween is meant for spooky fun. But sometimes you need to remind kids that even on Halloween, they shouldn’t talk to strangers or go into anyone’s car or home, always stay in well-lit areas that are familiar, and never walk in the road.
Make sure their costumes are safe. Sometimes, costumes can make it hard to see or cause them to trip, and any makeup or fake blood should be checked for dangerous dyes or chemicals.
Make sure they’re visible.Vests, reflective tape, and other items can be worn so that cars can see your kids when they’re crossing the street.
Candy safety.It’s important that they bring home their candy before they eat it so you can make sure it’s safe. It’s not a bad idea to give them a snack or a few pieces of candy in a separate bag before they go out trick-or-treating in case they get hungry.
Watch out for cars. Kids are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year. Make sure they’re looking both ways before crossing the road and staying aware of their surroundings.
Pet Safety
Keep candy out of your pet’s reach.Foods that contain chocolate or sugar substitutes like xylitol can be deadly if ingested by your pet.
Make sure your pet doesn’t get near lit candles or jack-o-lanterns. Pets often get excited by these Halloween decorations and can easily knock them over, which poses a fire hazard.
Keep human costumes with dangerous parts away. Costume parts like glow sticks, small pieces that are sharp or could be swallowed, and batteries could cause choking, internal injury, or illness.
Identify a safe place for your pet.If your furry friend is nervous around strangers, unknown people in costumes can be especially upsetting. To make sure your pet doesn’t bite anyone or run away, make sure they’re in a room or kept away from the front door when you’re expecting trick-or-treaters.
Keep your pets indoors.If your cat likes to roam the neighborhood from time to time, tonight is not the night. Loud noises from trick-or-treaters could spook your pet.
###