Halloween Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips

From the Harrison police:

Halloween is an exciting night of the year and a particularly special treat for young children. It is also an important time to be extra vigilant for potential safety hazards.

The Harrison Police Department wishes everyone a happy, fun and safe Halloween and is urging parents to teach their children simple safety tips before they head out to ‘TRICK-OR- TREAT”. Here are some safety tips to help keep everyone safe on Halloween:

• Younger children should always be accompanied by an adult or trustworthy teen.
• Older children should be given boundaries and should communicate with their parents along the way.
• Establish a time for children to return home.
• Plan and discuss the route your trick-or- treaters will follow.
• Instruct children to travel only in familiar areas and along established routes.
• Teach children to stop only at well-lit houses and to never to enter a stranger’s home or garage.
• Tell children not to eat any treats until they get home.
• Review trick-or- treating safety precautions, including pedestrian and traffic safety rules.
• Make sure Halloween costumes are flame-retardant and visible with retro- reflective material.

Trick-or-Treaters

• Be bright at night – wear retro-reflective tape on costumes and treat buckets to improve visibility to motorists and others.
• Wear disguises that don’t obstruct vision also, watch the length of billowy costumes to help avoid tripping.
• Ensure any props are flexible and blunt-tipped to avoid injury from tripping or horseplay.
• Carry a flashlight containing fresh batteries, and place it facedown in the treat bucket to free up one hand. Never shine it into the eyes of oncoming drivers.
• Stay on sidewalks and avoid walking in streets if possible.
• If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic.
• Look both ways and listen for traffic before crossing the street.
• Cross streets only at the corner, and never cross between parked vehicles or mid-block.
• Trick-or- treat in a group if someone older cannot go with you.
• Tell your parents where you are going.

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