Safety Tips for Trick-Or-Treating

Date and Time of Release: 28 October 2015

Subject: Safety Tips for Trick-Or-Treating
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Parents need to take an active role during trick-or-treat activities. Here are a few helpful tips:

• Plan your route ahead of time, try to target well-lit streets, avoid high traffic areas and busy streets

• Choose costumes which make it easy for children to walk in and be seen by drivers, light colored costumes are the best choice

• For darker-colored costumes, use reflective tape or glow sticks to help make your children visible to drivers. Be creative in applying the tape and glow sticks to make it fun and easy to be seen

• Masks can sometimes obstruct a child’s vision, so make sure when they are crossing the street they remove the mask, or consider using makeup instead of a mask.

• It’s best to trick-or-treat just before dusk, but if you find yourselves out after dark, carry a flashlight so trick-or-treaters can see and drivers can see them

• Don’t run! Always walk and make sure your kids do too

• Cross only at corners and never cross between parked cars or in the middle of a block

• Wait until you get home to sort, check, and eat treats. Always toss any treats which look suspicious or are home made

• Even if you’re not behind the wheel, it is still important to remain alert when near roads and busy areas

• Remember, even if you see a car, they may not be able to see you and your children, so be extra cautious and set a good example for your kids