Behind the Badge
Kids and parents alike love the Halloween season. There are the fun costumes, spooky decorations, glowing pumpkins with crooked grins and, of course, the candy.
But crowded streets, distracted drivers, and costumes which easily blend into the darkness and shadows of Halloween night can make trick or treating – a bit tricky.
We’ve put together a list of tips for making this Halloween a safe and fun experience.
- Use crosswalks: Maybe the house across the street is mobbed with kids who just discovered they are giving out full-size chocolate bars. But before sprinting across the street, take a moment and look for a crosswalk, and look both ways before crossing.
- Use sidewalks: It is safest to stay on sidewalks and paved roads where drivers can see you.
- Unplug: It’s Halloween, there’s candy to be had, costume-watching to be done, and more importantly, it’s safer to avoid texting or talking on the phone while walking around the neighborhood in the dark.
- Parental supervision: A responsible adult should escort children while they are trick-or-treating.
- The talk: Remind children they should never enter strangers’ homes, treats shouldn’t be eaten until after they have been examined by a parent or guardian, children should not accept rides from strangers, and don’t take shortcuts through alleys or back yards. Also, walk, don’t run, through the streets.
- Costume safety: While masks are fun to look at, they obscure vision and can be dangerous, so go for face paint instead. Costumes and shoes should be correctly sized to avoid tripping and make sure wigs and costumes are fireproof.
- Shine bright: Carry a flashlight and make sure costumes or Halloween bags have reflective tape for visibility through the shadows of All Hallows’ Eve.
- Keep an eye out for cars: Make eye contact and nod or wave at drivers so you know they see you.
- Check candy: Don’t take any homemade treats from someone you don’t know; children should wait to have their candy examined before they start eating. A responsible adult should look for tiny pinholes or tears in wrappers, anything unwrapped should be tossed, and tell children not to accept anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.
- When in doubt, throw it out: Follow the golden rule of Halloween night.
For more information on SafeOC, check out their website: https://www.safeoc.com/about-safeoc
