Posts Tagged ‘Tips’

Top 10 Halloween Safety Tips for Parents

Article by Nancy Stonecutter

There are accidents and incidents every Halloween that can spoil the holiday. Pedestrian accidents, tampered products causing illness or lacerations, falls, fires, etc. Here are my Top 10 Tips to keep your family safe this halloween.

Costumes. Make sure the costumes you buy are flame retardant. They should fit well and not be too long so kids can walk without tripping. Watch out for dangling strings, fringes, scarves, etc. When choosing a costume, pick ones that will be comfortable for hours of wear, and will keep the child warm enough for chilly nights trick or treating. Avoid costumes and accessories that are sharp or pointy.Be visible. Costume that are reflective or bright are best so kids are visible by car drivers. If the costume is dark, consider adding some reflective tape to the costume, treat bag, shoes, etc. Reflective tape and a flashlight can make your child more visible in the dark.Masks. Be wary of mask since they can obscure vision. They are usually difficult to wear for any length of time. Opt for makeup and hats instead.Pumpkins. Do not let kids carve pumpkins themselves. Let them draw faces or designs on the pumpkins with markers and you do the carving. Instead of candles, use fairy lights, Christmas lights, or the orange lights now available at many stores. Just carve an extra hole in the back of the pumpkin so you can bring the plug through.Your Home. Before the little ghouls and goblins start arriving, make sure your home is ready. Clear off any items on your lawn that kids could trip on in the dark. Make sure your walkway is clear and lit. Check that your porch light works.Pets. Pets should be secured in a back part of the house. All the excitement and noise can upset them. You do not want them getting loose, or worse – biting a child.Safety outside. Warn your kids about running across the street. Night comes earlier this time of year and motorists may have trouble seeing the little ones if they dart out. There are pedestrian accidents every year during Halloween. Use extra caution if you are driving.Safe Trick or Treating. An adult must always go with small children. Teach your child to only go to homes where the lights are on. They should never enter inside a home. They should never go off with anyone promising sweets or enter a car for treats.Safety in Numbers. Older kids will probably want to go without parents, but lay down some rules first. Make kids stay together. Plan the route they will take, so they can find each other if one person gets lost, and you know where to go looking for them if you need to. Remind them to remain on the streets: not to cut across lawns or through alley ways. At least one child should carry a cell phone.Treat Safety. Once your kids get home, go through their candy. Throw out any suspicious or unwrapped items. Apples should be washed and cut up into pieces or used to make apple sauce. Limit the sweets children eat. My recommendation is to give Halloween toys instead of candy. They are free of allergens and sugar; toys are fun; and leftovers can be saved for next year. You can also get inexpensive Halloween flashlights and reflective necklaces as treats.A little preparation can ensure everyone has a happy, and safe, Halloween.


About the Author

Nancy Stonecutter is a nurse who writes about family and child care. Visit her blog at http://www.NancytheNurse.wordpress.com for more information.

Special Report: Halloween Safety Tips

Article by Jennifer Lalk

Halloween is a fun and exciting time for children and adults alike. It’s also a time when accidents and tragedies abound.

The following is a list of things you can do to ensure that your loved ones have a safe and fun Halloween.

Costumes

- Flame resistance. When picking out a costume for your child, always be sure to look for ones with a “flame resistant” label. Make certain every piece of the costume, wigs, beards, hats, scarves, masks is marked as “flame resistant”. Flame resistant items can catch fire, but resist burning and are easily extinguished once removed from the fire’s source.

- Avoid loose, billowy and baggy costumes. Jack-o-lanterns and candles are a big part of Halloween decorations and pose a great risk to anyone wearing a costume that is loose, billowy or baggy.- Costumes should be short enough to not trip your child.

- Bright material. Be sure your child’s costume is light or brightly colored so it can be easily seen in the dark. If your child has a dark costume, add strips of reflective tape so motorists can easily see him. Reflective tape can be found in most hardware or sporting goods stores and is an easy way to make sure your child is visible.

- Secure scarves and hats. Not only do scarves and hats present a potential fire hazard when not secured, they can also obstruct vision. It is very important that children can see clearly as they are out trick-or-treating so be sure to secure scarves, hats or any other item that may obstruct their vision.

- Face paint or makeup instead of masks. Masks should be avoided for the same reason; they are often designed so that the wearer cannot see well out of them. A safer alternative is to use makeup or face paint instead. If your child’s costume just won’t work without a mask, be sure to get one that fits your child well and that the eye holes are big enough that the child can see clearly with it on.

- Safe shoes. Wearing mother’s stilettos may be a cute addition to a costume but presents a tripping hazard. Be sure your child’s shoes allow her to walk easily and safely and that they won’t cause her to trip or stumble as she’s crossing the street.

- Soft, flexible props. Make sure any sword, wands, scythes, etc., that are a part of your child’s costume is soft and flexible to avoid injury.

Trick-or-Treating

- Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or responsible teenager.

- Stick to familiar neighborhoods. Older children who are going out without a parent should stay in your neighborhood for safety.

- Never let a child, no matter what their age, trick-or-treat alone. There is safety in numbers, especially when going from door-to-door in the dark.

- Map out a route of exactly where your trick-or-treators will be going and insist that they stick to it at all times.

- Trick-or-treat only at houses that are well lit or that have a porch light on to welcome trick-or-treators. Never go to a dark house or one where a “no trick-or-treating” sign is displayed.

- Make certain to tell your children, no matter what their age, that they are not to enter someone’s house or apartment. And, that they are not to help an adult with anything, no matter what he or she says. If the adult truly needs help he can get another adult to help him.

- Always walk on sidewalks and use cross walks or cross at street corners. Trick-or-treators have been run over when darting out from between parked cars.

- Make sure your children know they are never to go down an alley or cut through an empty lot or field. They should stick to the preplanned route at all times.

- In order to see and to be seen everyone in the group should carry a flashlight.

- Tell your children they are not to eat anything until they get home and have an adult check their goodies. If your children eat a good meal before they go they may be less tempted to dive into their goody bag before you get a chance to check it out.

Parties

– Remove harmful and/or breakable objects from the party area. This includes candles or any open flames that could potentially cause costumes to catch fire.

– If using dry ice in the punch, place small chunks in a bowl of water and float the bowl in the punch. Dry ice contains chemicals that should not be ingested and can also cause burns if pieces find their way in your guests’ mouths.

- Check to be sure that none of your guests have food allergies before you plan your menu. Food allergies are more common now than ever and a bad reaction can put a damper on your festivities, as well as possibly risking the health of a guest.

- Play games that are age appropriate to your group. If there are a variety of ages in your group, consider breaking into smaller groups according to age and playing games accordingly.

- Avoid germ-swapping games to keep health risks at bay. While bobbing for apples and similar games are fun and traditional, they are also breeding grounds for all sorts of germs.

Pets

– Keep pets inside. Halloween is a dangerous time for pets. Keeping them inside and accompanying them when they’re put out to “do their business” will help keep them safe from harm. If you have pets that absolutely have to be outside, keep them in a well lit place where you can see them.

- If you have a pet that might dart out the door when it’s opened for trick-or-treators, consider shutting it in a room with food and water and checking on it periodically through the evening.

- Consider using artificial lights in place of candles for decorating. Many a tail, paw and face have been burned due to traditional candles.

- Keep all candy and wrappers out of your pets’ reach.

- If you’re hosting an adult party where alcohol will be served, be sure to keep it well out of your pets’ reach. While an intoxicated pooch may be humorous, a visit to the vet’s office will not.

Friday October 30th, Baer Insurance will be hosting a safe and warm Halloween Trick-or-Treat event for their clients. From 9am to 3pm, bring your little ones for candy, free goodies, and a picture of them in their costume! For more details, email baer@baerinsurance.com.

About the Author

Jennifer Lalk is the Marketing Manager for Baer Insurance, an independent insurance agency located in Madison, WI. Baer Insurance is a charter member of the National Society of Agents for Consumer Education (NSACE).

Must Read Halloween Trick Or Treating Tips

Article by Stacy Ho

Face Painting Techniques and Tips – How To Paint The Skull Design

Article by Dawn Anderson

Face painting has gained tremendous popularity in recent years especially in children birthday parties and carnivals. What used to be an indulgence has become a common activity in bringing loads of fun and joy at family and friends gathering.

The Skull in particular is a popular design at Halloween parties. In this article, I offer some techniques on how to paint a Skull.

Face Painting Tools needed:* Water based face paint that is FDA approved. Snazaroo is a good choice* One fine brush, preferably number 2* One medium brush, preferably number 4* One large brush, preferably number 8* One jug of warm water* One form makeup sponge* One towel and some wet wipes* Face Glitter

Step 1: Apply The Base Coat

Begin by applying white paint over the entire face using the sponge to form the base coat. Cover the lips with white paint as well. You can leave out the area around the eyes since we are going to put a different color paint on it later.

Step 2: Hollow It Out

To create the skull’s eyes and nose, take the black paint by using the medium brush and paint under the eyebrow, underneath the eye and go over the eyelid. Do not paint a circle shape. It should look more like a rectangle with rounded corners. Let each layer dry before you start a new step.

Next, paint two teardrop shapes on the bridge of the nose, running parallel to each other.

To hollow out the skull, apply black paint on the temple. Then have your subject suck in the cheeks so you could trace under the bone to create the impression that the cheeks weren’t there. Use tap-and-blend techniques along the way to achieve greater results.

Step 3: The Skull Teeth

Paint directly onto the lips to create the skull teeth. First paint the lips with a black outline and then complete it with the fine brush. The upper teeth should be painted bigger than the lower ones. Add more white paint on the teeth to make them more pronounced.

Step 4: Final Touchup

You may use a fine brush and some black paint to create some crack lines effect on the various parts of the face. Take note not to overdo it. A light touch will be good enough.

You should have a pretty scary skull design using the tips above.

About the Author

Dawn Anderson is a pre-school teacher who teaches Art & Craft. She is also the author of Simple Face Painting, a website resource where she offers FREE face painting ideas to those who share the same passion and interest. You can access the FREE resources here: www.SimpleFacePainting.com

Some Tips To End Excessive Oily Face Appearance

Article by Delia Brown

If you’re like most, then you hate doing your best to look great, and a few hours later you can feel the oily build-up on your face. Then a quick glance in the mirror confirms your worst fears. We understand just how irritating this can be: it is this way for everyone. You’ve most likely tested different products on this, including products that are supposed to affect the level of oil production you have on your face.

If you aren’t sure what you are doing you are more than likely going to make things worse for yourself. The best weapon for fighting oily skin is education; learn what you can about what causes it and how to prevent it. That is why, in this article, we will teach you some skin care tips that will help you keep the oily look away.

When you need a long term helper in reducing the amount of oil your skin produces, you should start wearing moisturizer regularly. When you head for bed each night make sure that, after you take off your makeup and wash your face, you put on a small amount of moisturizer. Make sure that you buy the best products for your type of skin. As a footnote, the best products for you does not mean the most expensive, either. There are lots of cheap natural astringents and you can even make your own for a low cost. You probably won’t believe this but cold (and pure) water acts as a perfectly acceptable natural astringent. If you love wearing makeup, are you sure that you have chosen products that won’t worsen your condition? Is your makeup heavy? If you wear a heavy layer of makeup you have two options: you can wear less (or lighter layers) or you can work harder each day to cleanse your skin. This is because it is possible that your skin is making more oil than usual in an attempt to clean the heavy makeup out of your pores. You should also be sure of the ingredients because you want to avoid any skin care product containing oil derived ingredients. Or, basically, you’re possibly adding fuel to the fire.

If you are okay with wearing foundation, you need to find a healthy foundation to keep the shine to a minimum. Foundation is also good for protecting your skin from the rest of the makeup that you wear. Also, during the day you can apply a little bit as needed in those spots where the oily shine is more likely to occur. Getting rid of the oily look during your day is as simple as taking immediate action, like using oily skin blotting products. Obviously these kinds of products only provide quick and temporary relief. You also need to take a good and objective look at your entire skin care routine to address the issue on a deeper and long-term basis.

About the Author

Delia’s websites: Cheap Cruises 2015, Emirate Airlines, Mas Airline and NCL Cruises.