Halloween Safety Tips

(Indiana State Police release)

Halloween may be a fun holiday for children, but for parents the holiday can be a little tricky. To help parents and children have a safe and enjoyable Halloween, the Indiana State Police offers the following safety tips:

The Costume
Keep costumes short to prevent trips and falls.
Try make-up instead of a mask. Masks often obstruct a child's vision, which makes tasks like crossing the street and going up and down stairs dangerous.
Make sure children wear light colors or put reflective tape on their costumes.

Trick or Treating
Make sure older children trick-or-treat with friends. Together, map out a safe route so parents know where they will be.
Instruct children to stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.
Encourage children to trick-or-treat while it's still light out. If children are out after dark, make sure they have flashlights and travel on well lighted streets.
Remind children not to enter the homes or cars of strangers.
Follow your communities trick-or-treating hours.

Treats
Remind children not to eat any of their treats until they get home.
Check out all treats at home in a well-lighted place.
Only eat unopened candies and other treats that are in original wrappers. Remember to inspect fruits for anything suspicious.

Additionally, many communities, schools and churches offer children safe alternatives to trick-or-treating designed to keep children safely within parents' view. Some hospitals and schools allow children to trick-or-treat by going from room to room virtually eliminating the dangers associated with being out walking on the street after dark.