Easter Tips from Norwalk's Office of Emergency Management

"Celebrating Easter with egg hunts, cooking and candy can make for a great holiday," said Michele DeLuca, the Deputy Director of Emergency Management. "Here are a few tips from officials at the Norwalk Fire Department to help keep your family and property safe this Easter."

Cooking:

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• Open cartons of eggs before you buy them. Don't purchase cartons with cracked eggs
• Like other high-protein foods, eggs should not be left out of the refrigerator for more than hours. This goes for both raw and cooked eggs.
• To minimize health risks, cook two sets of eggs-one for an Easter egg hunt or table centerpieces  and the other for eating. That way, the eggs you eat can stay properly refrigerated.
• When preparing eggs for the hunt, wash hands before and after working with raw eggs, as well as any utensils or dishes used. Do not use eggs that have been cracked or broken

Easter Egg Hunts

• To prevent choking and exposure to choking hazards, children under the age of 5 should not be given small candy. Be sure to give out age-appropriate candy and be watchful of little ones at all times.
• Toys with small pieces are also choking hazards so be mindful of any toys handed out to young children.
• Remember that some kids have nut allergies that are very serious. Check with parents before offering any chocolate bunnies or other candies that might have nuts.
• Set up a boundary for an outdoor Easter egg hunt so kids are not wandering off or into places that aren't safe or supervised.
• Separate age groups so that the large kids are not running off for their eggs and knocking over smaller children.
• For indoor egg hunts, do not hide eggs near outlets, hard to reach areas, near glass or other breakables or dangerous spots. Designate only certain rooms of the house for indoor egg hunts so children aren't running around the house unsupervised.