Wednesday, October 25, 2000

Taking safety seriously can add to Halloween fun

By DR. SCOTT WILLIAMSON
Tyrone Eye Care

Parents know that kids want to be scary and spooky during Halloween, but don't forget visibility.

Hypo-allergenic makeup offers children a safer, more natural view than that offered by masks, which may not fit well or have adequately sized eye openings. With makeup in scary colors and a little help from a parent, a child can sport a customized disguise without hampering vision. Just remember to keep makeup particles and applicators out of children's eyes.

Costumes can also be both frightful and visible if parents decorate them with iron-on or sew-on retroreflective fabric or tape. Even self-stick decals are a good idea.

Retroreflective materials are visible to drivers even at speeds of 70 to 80 miles per hour. By comparison, white material is visible only up to 50 mph. Be sure the material is placed so that the child can be seen from the front, back and sides.

Another suggestion for a spooky disguise for older children and adults is the new colored contacts called Wildeyes or Crazy Eyes. They come in a variety of shapes and colors and are available with or without prescription.

Adults can go even farther to make Halloween safer by making sure all holes in yards are filled, steps repaired, and loose railings tightened. Porch or yard lights should be turned on and property should be cleared of any lawn equipment or objects that might trip a young trick-or-treater.

In addition to making children visible and providing them with good visibility, parents and all drivers should be extra vigilant when driving on neighborhood roads. Reduce speeds, and make sure your windshields, headlights and mirrors are clean. Drivers who have difficulty driving at night should avoid driving on Halloween.

Also, have an adult accompany children. Be sure children walk on sidewalks or yards, not in the streets. Look both ways carefully at crossings and try to cross at corners with street lights if possible. A battery-operated light or lantern adds an extra measure of visibility.

Halloween is a fun time for children, but it need not scare their parents. The key is to see and be seen, and by following these suggestions both parents and children can make Halloween the treat of a holiday it was meant to be.

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