Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

The sidewalks and streets will soon be filled with ghosts, ghouls, and goblins! Halloween brings out the kid in all of us. Before you head out for trick-or-treating, here are a few safety tips to make sure everyone has a Happy and SAFE holiday:

At home –

• Keep flammable items, such as your jack-o-lantern, away from small children, pets and flammable materials such as draperies, furniture and paper decorations. Never leave a candle burning unattended.
• Watch your pets around costumed children. The pet may not recognize the child and become frightened, especially if the child is using a prop such as a sword or dagger.

Out trick-or-treating –

• Choose bright, flame-retardant costumes or add reflectors to costumes and candy bags so children are easily seen in the dark. In addition, trick-or-treaters should carry a glow stick or flashlight.
• Avoid hard plastic or wooden props, opting instead for items made of foam rubber, which is soft and flexible.
• Never send young children out alone. They should always be accompanied by a parent or another trusted adult. Older children should always travel in groups.
• Always walk younger children to the door to receive treats and don’t let children enter a home unless you are with them and know the family that lives there.
• Watch for traffic! Avoid walking in the street and only cross the street at crosswalks.
• Plan a trick-or-treat route in familiar neighborhoods with well-lit streets. 
• Know the route your children are following. Children should always walk together to the front door of each house.
• Make sure your children know your phone number(s) and address in case you get separated.
• Be sure children do not approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless you are with them.
• Teach your children to say “NO!” and “this is NOT my mom/dad” in a loud voice if someone tries to get them to go somewhere, accept anything other than a treat, or leave with them. Also teach them to make every effort to get away by kicking, screaming and resisting.
• Remember to drive slowly and carefully on Halloween as some children may be wearing costumes which make them difficult to see.

There are also candy buy-back programs in Ann Arbor at Enspire Dental on West Liberty Road and in Ypsilanti at David Schmidt, Ypsilanti Dentist on Packard Road.

At Enspire Dental, the Annual Candy Buy Back Day is Friday, November 1st from 12noon-5PM. For every pound of unused wrapped candy your child brings in they get $1 back!

At David Schmidt Dentistry, Buy-Back Days are Friday, November 1st – Friday, November 15th – Mondays and Tuesdays from 8AM – 5PM, Wednesdays from 12noon – 7PM and Fridays from 9AM – 2PM. For every pound of unused wrapped candy your child brings in they get $1 back (max $5 per child). Children must be accompanied by an adult. Every donor gets a raffle ticket for the Family Movie Night Gift Card!