Halloween is around the corner.
Neighborhoods will be crowded with costumed ghouls and goblins. Here are a few tips to keep your loved ones safe while trick or treating, and also for those driving on Halloween night.
Remember, Halloween is on a SATURDAY night this year.
For those attending Halloween parties, be safe and be smart.
FOR TRICK-OR-TREATERS:
1. Cross the street only at corners and don’t hide between parked cars. Make sure you look both ways before entering the street.
2. Stay in familiar neighborhoods and only visit houses with lighted porches.
3. If you visit a stranger’s house, accept treats only at the door. Don’t go inside the house.
4. Older kids going it alone should be clear about the time you expect them home
5. Stay in groups of three or more
6. Know where the Block Parent houses are
7. Cross at crosswalks and use the sidewalk
8. Carry a flashlight and batteries and a cell phone, if you have one
9. Try to keep one hand free at all times (for holding handrails or catching yourself if you trip)
10. Trick-or-treat only at homes that are well-lit
11. Don’t enter homes or apartments; the front door is as far as you need to go
12. Don’t use short-cuts through alleys, yards or parks
13. Walk, don’t run. Unseen objects on lawns or uneven terrain are tripping hazards
14. Don’t eat any treats until you’ve inspected them
15. Avoid high-heeled shoes and instead choose sturdy, well-fitting footwear Vandalism is a crime and punishable by the law even for juveniles.
Vandalism is never worth the price you will have to pay if you get caught.
FOR DRIVERS:
A. Slow down in residential neighborhoods.
B. Watch for children walking along roadways and curbs.
C. Enter and exit driveways carefully.
D. Use your vehicle’s headlights, even during the day, so you are visible.
E. When driving children to and from holiday events, have them enter and exit at the curbside of the vehicle only.
F. Don't use a cell phone or other electronic device while driving on Halloween night. You shouldn't be doing this anyway, the rate of cell phone related auto accidents has jumped dramatically since the use of cell phones and texting has risen so high. Some states have already made laws concerning this and others are working on it.
G. Drive below the posted speed limit in residential areas during trick-or-treating hours.
H. Do not pass other vehicles that have stopped in the roadway (i.e. at a crosswalk), they could be dropping off or picking up children.
For many, Halloween is the most fun night of the year. Let’s keep it that way, and safe, by slowing down a little and remembering these safety tips.