Are you ready for trick-or-treating?
Halloween may be about pumpkin carving, costumes, and candy, but being safe is important to ensure everyone has more treats than tricks.
Following these guidelines will help everyone in your group stay safe during trick-or-treating hours.
- Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of vehicles.
- Always walk on sidewalks or pedestrian paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
- Don’t be distracted by earbuds or electronic devices while out and about.
- Watch for turning or reversing vehicles. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
- If you’re driving, go slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic, and turn your headlights on to spot children from greater distances.
- Children under the age of 12 should always go out with an adult. If kids are old enough to go without supervision, they should trick-or-treat in groups and stick to familiar areas that are well-lit.
- Decorate costumes and trick-or-treat bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
- Skip any masks, as they can obstruct your child’s vision.
- Never accept rides from strangers.
- If you are handing out candy, keep your front porch light or garage light on.
- Candlelit jack-o-lanterns should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left unattended.
We hope you and your family have a safe and happy Halloween!
