Halloween Safety Tips

• Parents should establish a route for children, stay within familiar areas and surroundings.  An adult should accompany young children.
• Remind kids not to enter strangers’ homes or cars.
• Remind children to avoid homes without an outside light on.
• Attach your phone number and address to your children’s costume.
• Take a flashlight.
• Be sure clothing/costumes are bright, reflective and flame retardant.
• Set rules about not eating treats until kids get home. Be sure to inspect all treats before allowing kids to eat them.
• When in doubt, throw it out! Candy that has been opened should be thrown away. Any homemade treats or fruit should be inspected closely.
• Never cross the street between parked cars.
• Watch open flames from jack-o-lanterns as they can catch costumes and long wigs on fire.
• Make sure that fake knives, swords, and guns are made from cardboard or other flexible materials to avoid accidental injury or worse, have them mistaken for the real thing!
• It is also important to ensure that your home is safe and accessible to trick-or-treaters. As adults there are some very simple things we can do to make the evening safe everyone.
• Turn on your porch light and sit outside to distribute treats.  Encourage your neighbors to join you.  It makes the whole neighborhood safer.
• Move lit jack-o-lanterns off the porch where kids get bunched up if they are trick-or-treating in groups.
• Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard.
• Drive slowly all evening-you never know what creature may suddenly cross your path.
• Report any suspicious or criminal activity to the police.