SAFE KIDS GEARS UP: NEW GROUP BEGINS WITH HALLOWEEN SAFETY

Safe Kids, a national organization working towards safety for children, has started a chapter in Cape Girardeau.

Safe Kids is kicking off its efforts by promoting tips for a safe Halloween celebration.

Cathy Magas at Southeast Missouri Hospital and Sandy Geile at St. Francis Medical Center are local co-chairmen.

"The national Safe Kids campaign started in the late 1980s in Washington, D.C.," Magas said. "It has grown into a nationwide coalition. Our mission is to prevent injuries to children."

Injury is the leading cause of death in children over 1.

The Cape Girardeau organization is being organized through the local hospitals, but Magas emphasized that many organizations are being invited to join. In November a membership-building event will be planned.

"Businesses, civic organizations, individuals, anyone interested in working toward preventing injuries are invited," she said. For more information call 651-5815.

In addition to Halloween safety tips, the organization here is working with child passenger safety. "We have been going to day care centers, schools with programs," Magas said.

The organization is also working with the fire department on a smoke detector program. Magas said the national organization sent 100 smoke detectors to be installed in homes with children.

To help prevent falls on Halloween:

Apply face paint or cosmetics directly to the face. It is safer than loose-fitting masks that can obstruct a child's vision. If a mask is worn, be sure it fits securely. Cut eye holes large enough for full vision.

Give trick-or-treaters flashlights.

Make costumes short enough to avoid tripping over them.

Secure hats and wigs so they won't slip over children's eyes.

Dress children in shoes that fit. Mom's heels or Dad's work boots are not safe for trick-or-treaters.

Teach children not to cut across yards. Lawn ornaments and clothesline can't be seen in the dark.

To help prevent pedestrian injuries:

Decorate costumes and trick-or-treat bags with reflective tape.

Select Halloween costumes that are light-colored or bright enough to make them more visible at dusk.

Remind children to stop at all corners.

Tell kids to look left, right and left again before crossing.

Tell them never to dart out from between parked cars.

Never let young children go trick-or-treating without an adult or older sibling.

Slow down in residential areas.

Watch for children walking in the street or on medians and curbs.

Make sure your headlights are clean and operational.

Teach children to exit and enter the car on the curb side, away from traffic.

General safety guidelines:

Attach the name, address and phone number of children under 12 to their clothes, but not in an easily visible place.

Make sure young children know their phone number.

Instruct children to travel only in familiar areas and along a pre-established route.

Set a time for children to return home.

Restrict trick-or-treat visits to homes with porch or outside lights lit.

Remove obstacles such as tools, ladders and children's toys from your steps, lawn and porch, and keep lighted jack-o-lanterns away from landings or doorsteps where costumes might brush against the flame.

Tell children to bring their treats home before eating them so parents can inspect them for possible tampering.