Hey everyone, There was an alarming news from the DEA back in August of 2022. There have been huge warnings about fentanyl and other drugs that might be put into our kids candies. Now obviously, I'm not trying to scare you, but I want everyone to be cautious with everything going on the world, just to make sure you take some precautions this year. As a Sensei that teaches martial arts in Las Vegas, I always want to make sure our kids are aware of the things that could happen in our community. The DEA ( Drug Enforcement Admin station) Stated the following, “Rainbow fentanyl—fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes—is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.  “The men and women of the DEA are relentlessly working to stop the trafficking of rainbow fentanyl and defeat the Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for the vast majority of the fentanyl that is being trafficked in the United States.” Brightly-colored fentanyl is being seized in multiple forms, including pills, powder, and blocks that resembles sidewalk chalk.  Despite claims that certain colors may be more potent than others, there is no indication through DEA’s laboratory testing that this is the case.  Every color, shape, and size of fentanyl should be considered extremely dangerous." Source: https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2022/08/30/dea-warns-brightly-colored-fentanyl-used-target-young-americans Now of course, I want everyone to enjoy Halloween but just  make sure you check your candy and make sure before they consume anything you do some recommendations that keep our kids safe. Especially when checking your bags this year. Here are some good ways to be safe this Halloween this year, and with a crazy world we live in today some of these bullet points will surely help you stay safe this year.

Halloween Safety Tips 

• Don't have your kids trick or treat alone make sure they go with friends they trust.
• Don't go to a house with no lights or no decorations.
• Consider going to shopping malls you get more candy there.
• Start earlier in the day so you can get more houses
• Parents go with your kids! Plus is double the candy!
• Avoid dark allies and go to neighborhood you know it'll be safe.
• Make sure you have a designated time that Halloween Trick or Treat Will be over.
• Go in huge groups and make a plan.
• Make sure you talk to you child about self awareness
• Bring a Flash Light

Tips on checking your candy

( From Years of Sensei Lorenzo Mother)

  My mother used to always yell at me funny how some words stick to you as you get older. Tips from a Filipino Mother

• Check for open wrappers
• Check for glass or metal
• Have your parent look at the candy first
• Have different bags to separate them just in case.
• Don't eat any candy until mom or dad checks it first.

I feel like sometimes as a martial arts instructor sometimes we can be overly paranoid. But there is a fine line between security and being self aware and there should be a fine balance between being aware and being fearful. I am just asking my community to just be aware and don't ever let fear control you to not enjoy your life. Here's some world wide data on what parents do to keep safe during Halloween. A paragraph taken from, Safe Kids.   "Perceptions of Risk Findings Parents’ Halloween-related fears are widespread, with nearly four in five (77%) expressing one or more specific concerns. These concerns include being hit by a car or truck (31%), poisoning from tampered or spoiled treats (24%), abductions (15%), falls (4%), burns (1%), broken bones (1%), or other fears. Parents appear to be getting the message that children are in excess danger of pedestrian injuries by walking on dark streets and in unfamiliar neighborhoods on Halloween night. Yet the fear of poisoned or tampered treats persists strongly, despite research that indicates that few incidents occur each year.2 Of the families stating that they celebrate Halloween (94%), one in six (17%) report no fears at all, despite the fact that on average, more than twice as many children are killed in pedestrian/ vehicle incidents on Halloween between 4:00 pm and 10:00 pm as compared to the same hours on other days throughout the year.1 Fortunately, only 5% of parents in the study report that their child has been injured on Halloween night, and only 1% of these injuries (e.g., hit by a car or truck, fall, poisoning, broken bone or burn) were severe enough to require medical attention. " Source: https://www.safekids.org/sites/default/files/documents/ResearchReports/halloween-research-report.pdf For more info about Kids Karate Classes call 702-374-3323 and I hope to see you in class.