How To Be Safe on Halloween Night

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office reminds residents that Halloween Night, which is this Saturday, brings large numbers of young pedestrians onto neighborhood streets. Motorists should follow these tips to insure a safe Halloween night:

• Be extra alert for people walking in and around the roadway, especially around parked cars and other areas where your vision may be blocked;
• Avoid all forms of distracted driving;
• If your event includes alcohol, designate your sober driver before going out;
• If you’re impaired, call a sober friend or family member to help get you home safely;
• Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement.

Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office encourages parental supervision and involvement during trick-or-treat. Parents must be aware of the following safety rules for their children:

• Know your trick-or-treaters’ route. Children under 12 should not trick-or-treat without adult supervision;
• Take a flashlight, and consider adding reflective material to costumes or bags;
• Be sure costumes, shoes and treat bags are safe;
• Remind kids not to enter strangers’ homes or cars;
• Set rules about not eating treats until kids get home, and inspect all treats before allowing kids to eat them;
• Candy that has been opened should be thrown away, and avoid all homemade treats or fruit received from strangers;
• Remember drivers have a hard time seeing people, especially at dusk;
• Never cross the street from between parked cars;
• Avoid distractions – focusing on a cell phone instead of your surroundings can be dangerous while walking, too;
• Watch open flames from jack-o-lanterns - 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’s also important to ensure that your home is safe and accessible to trick-or-treaters. As adults, there are some simple things we can do to make the evening safe for everyone:

• Turn on your porch light;
• Move lit jack-o-lanterns to safe locations away from areas where kids get bunched up if they are trick-or-treating in groups;
• Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard;
• Remember your pets – the extra activity around your home can be stressful to animals. Always keep pets away from the door during trick-or-treating hours.
• Also, remember that many types of candy can be harmful to animals and should be kept away from your pets.
  

Finally, residents are reminded that with increased pedestrian traffic throughout neighborhoods, it is essential to practice home safety and security recommendations:

• Always keep vehicles and outbuildings locked;
• Lock your home if you will be away, even for a short period of time;
• Report any suspicious or criminal activity to the Sheriff’s Office or local police agency.
  

For additional safety tips, please visit the Safe Kids Worldwide website - please click here.