With Halloween approaching, we have a few safety reminders to keep our Episcopal community safe. As safety is always top of mind, we thought you might appreciate the following tips:

• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
• Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
• Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
• Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
• Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross. 
• Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
• Children shouldn’t snack on treats from their goody bags while they’re out trick-or-treating. Give them a light meal or snack before they head out – don’t send them out on an empty stomach. Insist they wait until they get home and let you inspect their loot before they eat any of it.
• Tell children not to accept – and especially not to eat – anything that isn’t commercially wrapped. Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.
• If it’s not in the original packaging, just pass, don’t take it, because it’s not worth the risk!

Sincerely,

Tonya Carter, RN, BSN

School Nurse