Sheriff John Root offers the following safety tips for Halloween and Trick or Treating this year, which is Monday, October 31 from 6-8 P.M.
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 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.
Laurel Sheriff’s Deputies will be out in full force to help out. The sheriff’s office reminds you:
Let’s have a safe Halloween!