Halloween Safety Tips For Trick-Or-Treating

MIAMI, FL — If your children will be out trick-or-treating on Halloween, there are a few simple safety tips to keep in mind that will help make the holiday a happy memory. First responders from around the Miami area shared their safety tips with Patch. Judging from the photo, the Miami Police Department's "Legion" has already boned up on his Halloween safety tips and he is ready to have a howling good time.

Our thanks to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Miami Police Department.

Here are some tips from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to keep the treats rolling:

• Be sure that an adult accompanies your child at all times. There's no substitute for direct and constant safety supervision.
• Plan your trick-or-treating so that your route is completed before dark.
• If you must make the rounds at sunset or after dark, help assure that everyone can be seen by using flashlights. Never use candles or lanterns with open flames around children.
• Stay on sidewalks, walk facing traffic and cross streets only at intersections.
• Only approach houses that have outside lights on. Avoid construction areas and busy streets. Stay in areas you know well.
• Make sure that all costumes are brightly colored or white so that children can be seen easily. Apply stripes of reflective tape across the front and back of children's costumes and adults' clothing so that everyone can be seen easily in low light.
• Costumes should be completely flame-retardant. This includes wigs, beards and capes.
• Avoid loose or long costumes that may trip children or catch on things such as bushes and fences.
• Avoid masks that restrict a child's view or make it difficult to breathe. Instead, use makeup for special effects.
• Make sure that trick-or-treaters always have one hand free so they can catch themselves if they fall. Use treat bags that can be carried over one shoulder instead of in both hands.
• Children should not eat any treats until an adult has examined them for safety. Throw away homemade treats and anything that's not in a sealed wrapper.
• For lots of treats and fewer bad tricks, consider taking children to a Halloween party instead of trick-or-treating door to door.

The Miami-Dade Police Department teamed up with the student broadcast team at Christopher Columbus High School to create the following Halloween Safety Video. Watch below:

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue created the following video with even more safety tips:

The Miami Police Department's "Legion" has already boned up on Halloween safety tips and he is ready to have a howling good time. Photo courtesy Miami Police Department. Videos courtesy Miami-Dade Fire Department and Miami-Dade Police Department.