Tips for a safe and healthy Halloween

Dr. Matthew Bartels of Lifetime Health Medical Group is offering Halloween safety tips for parents to prepare their children for safe and enjoyable "trick-or-treat" fun.

Dr. Bartels works at the Amherst University Health Center, 1185 Sweet Home Road.

"A safe alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating is having or going to a Halloween party with people you know," said Bartels. "If you have older children who want to venture out, know the route they will be taking and set time limits on when they should return home."

Here are a few common sense safety tips that can help keep Halloween safe and fun:

Houses you know and well-lit areas are the best routes.

Always bring a flashlight and decorate costumes or bags with reflective tape or stickers.

Lighted candles can ignite costumes-stay far away. Let parents accompany children under age 10.

Only cross streets at corners, not between parked cars. Look both ways before crossing or go only when lights tell you to.

Wear costumes that are light reflective and flame resistant and walk, never run. Make sure props (knives, spears, wands, etc.) are flexible and have soft edges so they won't cause injury. Eat treats after a grown up inspects them; only keep wrapped candy. (Note that feeding kids a spooky - and filling - dinner before trick or treating may make them

less likely to eat

candy before you can inspect it.)

Everyday safety tips still apply, such as: don't get into cars, don't go inside strangers' houses.

Never go alone. Even older children should go out in groups.

For more information about Lifetime Health Medical Group, call 716/205-9355 or visit http://www.lifetime health.org.