Halloween Safety Tips

With Halloween just around the corner, we would like to remind everyone of some safety tips to ensure a safe and fun trick-or-treating experience.

General Safety Tips:

• Try to trick-or-treat during daylight.  If it is dark, make sure a couple of people are carrying working flashlights.
• Have your children wear light colored and/or some type of reflective clothing.
• Map out a safe route for your children to take.  Remind them to not take short cuts through backyards, alleys, or other areas.
• Older kids should go out with friends.  Younger kids should always be accompanied by an adult.
• Remind children to never enter a strange house or car.

Costume Tips:

• Encourage kids to wear comfortable shoes
• Keep costumes short to prevent tripping or falls
• Make sure costumes are flame-retardant to reduce dangers from candles or open flames
• Try make-up instead of a mask.  Masks can obstruct a child's vision.

Eating Treats:

• Remind your children to not eat their treats until they get home  Feeding them a meal or substantial snack before they go trick-or-treating will help keep them from eating the treats
• Eat only unopened candies and other treats that are in their original wrappers.  Parents should inspect fruit or homemade goodies for anything suspicious.

Halloween tips for the Adults:

• Welcome trick-or-treaters at home by turning on your exterior lights.
• Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard to visitors.
• Mobilize your neighborhood watch members to help monitor and patrol the neighborhood.
• Drive slowly all evening.  Children can dart out in front of you at any time.
• If you see criminal activity or anything suspicious, call the Police Department or Sheriff's Office.