Here are some important Halloween safety tips that every parent should know:

  • Purchase or make Halloween costumes from flame-resistant materials.

  • Pick brightly colored costumes or add your own reflective tape so motorists can see them.

  • Attach your child’s name, address, and phone number somewhere inside the costume.

  • An adult should always accompany children under age 12.

  • To avoid tripping, make sure your child’s costume is not too long, and that shoes are the proper size.

  • Plan the route your children are going to take, especially if they’re going out unsupervised. They should go in a group.

  • Teach your children never to respond to a driver or pedestrian that calls out to them.

  • Make sure your children don’t eat any candy or food without checking with you first.

  • Tell your children not to go to homes with barking, jumping dogs and not to approach any stray animals.

  • Make sure your children have flashlights, especially if they’re staying out after dark.

  • Establish an appropriate curfew for children to return home.

  • Don’t hand out candy that could be a possible choking hazard to younger children.

  • Teach your children to stay on the sidewalks and cross streets only at corners.

  • Teach your children to look, listen and be aware of cars not stopping at corners.

  • Teach your children to only go to houses with porch lights on and to never enter anyone’s house. -Teach your child how to call 911 for any emergency

Motorists should:

  • Watch for children darting out from between parked cars

  • Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.

  • Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.

  • At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.
    -Drive with extreme caution on Halloween and expect the unexpected from pedestrians.