Trick-or-treating safety tips
Posted at: 10/31/2012 9:53 AM
By: WNYT Staff
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If you're going trick-or-treating tonight with your kids, make note of a few safety tips.
Source: Albany County Sheriff’s Office
• Carry a flashlight or glow stick.
• Carry a cell phone if trick or treating without an adult.
• Be respectful of other people and their property.
Trick-or-Treaters Should NOT:
• Go inside a stranger's house or get into a stranger's car.
• Run across yards or streets.
• Venture down dark, empty streets.
• Approach dark, unlighted houses.
• Go between parked cars or crisscross back and forth across streets.
Parents with Younger Children:
• Should accompany young children.
• Plan to trick-or-treat while it's still light out.
• Walk with your children to each house and wait in the driveway for them.
Treats:
• Children should save all their candy until they get home.
• Feed your children a meal or substantial snack before trick or treating so they are less tempted to
eat the candy.
• Inspect all treats when you get home. Throw away any unwrapped, open, or suspicious
looking goodies.
• If your child becomes suddenly ill, IMMEDIATELY call your doctor or dial 911! Try to determine
what the child has eaten and where it came from. Save all wrappers.
At Home:
• Put away anything trick-or-treaters could trip over.
• Turn the lights on and replace any burned-out bulbs at the walkway and front door.
• Remember, your jack-o-lantern and any other candles or electrical decorations can be a fire hazard.
Keep them out of the reach of small children and away from flammable materials.
• Never leave your house unattended. If you have to leave your house, make sure all the doors
are locked.
Even if you don't have children:
• If driving on Halloween, watch for trick or treaters in the streets and darting out from between
parked cars.
• If hosting or attending a Halloween celebration that includes alcohol, be responsible! Don't drink
and drive!
We also recommend that you map out your route and check it against the New York State Sex
Offender Registry at www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/nsor. It is a good practice to check in with this vital
public safety resource a couple of times each year.
Review these safety guidelines with your family and set ground rules before heading out. Our office
will have increased patrols tonight, but a little planning on your part is the best way to ensure a safe,
fun Halloween.
