Plastics Help Make Halloween a Little Less Scary (For Parents)

Plastics Make it Possible® Offers Tips to Help Make Halloween a Bit Safer

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Oct 24, 2011, 08:05 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Halloween can be thrilling for little superheroes, zombies, and fairies, but it can be stressful for moms and dads concerned with their safety. And with tens of millions of kids trick or treating this year, that's a lot of worried moms and dads. Plastics Make it Possible®, an initiative sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council, offers some tips on how a little plastic can help make Halloween a little less scary – at least for parents.

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Time To Reflect – Add reflective plastic tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags to make your kids more visible.
Be Afraid (of fire) – Keep your little ones supervised and away from flames – candles, Jack-O-Lanterns, marshmallow roasts – and make sure all costumes, wigs and accessories are labeled flame resistant.
Modify the Mask – Some Halloween masks can obstruct vision and breathing. Take scissors to the plastic mask to expand the eye and mouth holes so your little zombie can see and breathe.
Dagger Danger – Make sure that your Grim Reaper's scythe or your Ghostface's dagger is soft and flexible plastic.
Light the Night – Experts recommend that children carry a flashlight (use fresh batteries!) to help them see and be seen – or a glow stick or little flashing decorations, at least.
Careful Contact – If your child doesn't carry an I.D., simply jot down name/ address/contact info, place it a small plastic zipper bag and slide it into a pocket. It's easy to find in an emergency, won't dissolve if wet and doesn't broadcast information to strangers.
Phone Home – A cell phone adds another layer of safety – preset home and parent cell numbers in the phone. Although cell phones made with tough plastics hold up to rough treatment, soft plastic phone cases add further protection if your little ghoul fumbles the phone.
Candy Care – Check all goodies before munching away. Most candy is wrapped in plastic wrappers to provide protection; treat the unwrapped treats with great suspicion.

"Halloween means costumes and candy to kids, but safety is top of mind for parents," said Steve Russell, vice president of plastics for the American Chemistry Council. "Fortunately, there are many inexpensive, readily available products made with plastics that can contribute to Halloween safety and help parents achieve a bit more peace of mind."

For more information on how plastics contribute to safety, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com.

About Plastics Make it Possible®

Plastics Make it Possible® highlights the many ways plastics inspire innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems and help us design a safer, more promising future. This initiative is sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council. For more information, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com and follow us @plasticpossible on Twitter at www.twitter.com/plasticpossible.

www.americanchemistry.com/newsroom

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $720 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is one of the nation's largest exporters, accounting for ten cents out of every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

Contact: Jennifer Killinger (202) 249-6619
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE American Chemistry Council