2007

The Drug and Poison Information Center at Cincinnati Children's would like to share the following Halloween and trick-or-treating tips with parents and children:

• Only go to well-lit houses and remain on porches rather than entering houses.
  
• Stay away from and don't pet animals you don't know.
  
• Cross streets at the corner, use crosswalks when available, and never cross between parked cars.
  
• Have your child's name and address attached to their costume.
  
• Consider using face paint instead of masks—masks can obstruct a child's vision.
  
• Make sure your child's costume doesn't drag on the ground.
  
• Shoes should fit well, even if they don't go with the costume.
  
• Wear clothing with reflective markings or tape.
  
• Tell your children to bring the candy home to be inspected before consuming anything.
  
• Healthy food alternatives for trick-or-treaters include packages of low-fat crackers with cheese or peanut butter filling, single-serve boxes of cereal, packaged fruit rolls, mini boxes of raisins and single-serve packets of low-fat popcorn.
  
• Non-food treats may include plastic rings, pencils, stickers, erasers and coins.
  
• Battery powered jack o'lantern candles are preferable to a real flame. If you do use candles, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.

For More Information, Contact the Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC) AT 1-800-222-1222. DPIC is open 24 hours a day.