Asotin Police Chief Monte Renzelman recently issued a comprehensive list of Halloween safety tips, including important reminders about checking treats before kids eat them and avoiding open flames around costumes by using candle alternatives.
We’re sharing his suggestions for keeping trick-or-treating kids and families safe on the street. Reviewing pedestrian rules with kiddos on Halloween makes for a safer celebration, and those reminders to use crosswalks and wear reflective clothing after dark serve everyone as daylight hours diminish.
- Motorists should exercise extreme caution when driving a vehicle. Be on the alert for excited youngsters, whose vision may be obscured by masks, darting out into traffic.
- It’s oft-repeated and obvious, but if there’s ever a night to abide by this law, Halloween is it: Never drink and drive.
- Try makeup instead of a mask. Masks can be hot and uncomfortable, and they can obstruct a child’s vision, a dangerous thing when kids are crossing streets and going up and down steps.
- Make sure kids wear light colors or put reflective tape and glow sticks on their costumes.
- Try to get your kids to trick or treat while it’s still light out. If it’s dark, make sure someone has a flashlight, add reflective tape and glow sticks to costumes and bags, and pick well-lit streets.
- Do not approach or accept rides from strangers and be sure children do not approach any vehicle, occupied or not.
- Remind kids to keep a safe distance from moving cars.
- Cross only at street corners or crosswalks, never between parked cars, and never diagonally across an intersection.
- Look in all directions before crossing the street and obey all traffic signals. Walk — never run — across the street, and use sidewalks — not the street — for walking.
- If there is no sidewalk, walk along the edge of the road as far off the travel lane as possible, facing traffic.
- Do not take shortcuts through backyards, alleys or dark parks.
- Provide a cellphone if kids are not accompanied by an adult, and teach them how to call 911 in an emergency.
- Start early. Try to finish before dark. Have a flashlight.