On Halloween the Indiana State Police Pendleton District is sharing safety tips to ensure a secure and enjoyable holiday for parents and children. The guidelines cover costume choices, trick-or-treating practices, treat inspection, and motorist precautions.
Halloween, known for little dinosaurs, superheroes, and Disney characters roaming neighborhoods, can be a thrilling time for children, but it brings its own set of challenges for parents. To promote a safe and enjoyable Halloween experience, the Indiana State Police Pendleton District has issued the following recommendations:
Costume Safety
- Keep costumes short to prevent trips and falls, especially for young children.
- Prefer makeup over masks, as masks can obstruct a child’s vision, making activities like crossing streets and navigating stairs hazardous.
- Ensure children wear light-colored costumes, avoiding black to enhance visibility.
Trick or Treating Guidelines
- Accompany young children with an adult during neighborhood rounds.
- For older children, encourage trick-or-treating with friends and plan a safe route for transparency with parents.
- Emphasize the importance of never entering a stranger’s home or vehicle.
- Encourage trick-or-treating while it’s still light out; if children go out after dark, equip them with flashlights, glow sticks, and choose well-lit streets.
- Adhere to community-established trick-or-treating hours.
Treat Safety
- Instruct children not to consume treats until they return home.
- Examine all treats in a well-lit area.
- Consume only unopened candies and treats in their original packaging, and inspect fruits for any suspicious items.
Motorist Precautions
- Remain vigilant for children walking on roadways, medians, and curbs.
- Exercise caution when entering and exiting driveways and alleys.
- During twilight and late evening hours, be on the lookout for children wearing dark clothing.
- Discourage new and inexperienced drivers from taking to the road on Halloween.
In addition to these recommendations, many communities, schools, and churches offer safe alternatives to traditional trick-or-treating, designed to keep children within the view of their parents. Some hospitals and schools permit children to go room-to-room, eliminating the dangers associated with walking on the streets after dark.
