Lemont Halloween Roundup

The Lemont Police Department’s Haunted Squad Car will be stalking the streets to keep an eye out for Lemont children – and to provide them a safe treat. The police department offers the following advice for its favorite “ghouls and boys” – and the community – on Halloween:

Costumes

• Makeup and face paint is safer than an ill-fitting mask which can obstruct vision, especially when crossing streets or climbing stairs.
• Children should wear comfortable, light colored clothing that is flame retardant and short enough to avoid tripping. 
• Reflective tape on costumes and bags can make your child more visible. 
• Glow necklaces, flashing buttons, and flashlights to carry will all help make them stand out in the dark.
• Comfortable walking shoes are important too.
• Hold a dress rehearsal to make sure your child can see and move freely.
• If a costume has props, make sure they are not sharp and are flexible.

At Home

• Put away bikes, skateboards, and toys in yard to prevent falls and for crime prevention purposes.
• Bring in the family pet for their safety. Be cautious near them in costume, as they may become excited or frightened.
• Turn on outside lights if you are welcoming trick or treaters. 
• Secure your house if you are going out for the evening.

Trick or Treating

• Remind your children of pedestrian and stranger safety rules. They should never enter anyone’s home if invited in, even acquaintances.
• Remind them not to take shortcuts through, fields, alleys or backyards and always have a trusted adult accompany them trick or treating. 
• Only trick or treat at lighted residences.
• If you are allowing older children to go without an adult, make certain that they follow the buddy system.
• Map out a safe route together, set a time to return home within the trick or treating hours, and have children wear a watch and carry a cell phone for emergencies.
• Know your child’s companions. Remind them that vandalism and pranks are not part of the Halloween fun and to respect other’s property.
• Feed them a snack prior or send one along from home. Remind them not to eat any Halloween treats before a trusted adult checks them.
• Never allow a child to eat a treat that has not been checked by a responsible adult at home, unhurried, and under good lighting.
• Discard fruit, unwrapped items, homemade goodies, or any treat with a loose or torn wrapper. 

Roadways

• Remind children to cross at intersections and crosswalks. 
• Obey all traffic signs and signals. 
• Stop, look left-right-left again and listen for cars. 
• Walk, don’t run, across the street.
• Walk on sidewalks whenever possible. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the street facing traffic.
• Walk, don’t run, from house to house.  Stay on the sidewalks and don’t cut through yards.
• When driving, watch out for trick or treaters while entering and exiting driveways and walking on or crossing roadways.  Be aware that children may cross the street between parked cars.

Adults

• Don’t drink and drive on Halloween or any night.  Designate a driver.

Call the Lemont Police Department by dialing 911 if you find anything suspicious.

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In case you missed them, here are some Halloween-related stories Lemont Patch has shared over the past few weeks:

Sex Offender Watch There are nine registered sex offenders listed as living in Lemont, according to the Illinois Sex Offender Registry. Read more and view an interactive map of homes to keep on your radar this Halloween.

Scary Halloween Statistics Just for fun, here are some scary statistics about Halloween.

Healthy Halloween Tricks and Treats Lisa Eaton Wright of Lemont, a wellness dietitian and spokesperson for the Illinois Dietetic Association, encourages families to think outside the candy aisle and choose healthier alternatives to sugary candies.

Enter to Win Patch’s Best Halloween Costume in America Contest We're searching for the best Halloween Costume in America - and you have until Nov. 1 to enter yourself or your kids for a chance to win $5,00

Scare Your Kids Into Reading with These Books for Halloween Check out ReadKiddoRead.com’s  list of the best Halloween books for kids. After trick or treating, what better time is there than Halloween night to indulge in stories that make our spines tingle?