Halloween Safety Tips

Here are some Halloween Safety tips for parents, children and the public to make your holiday a safe ane enjoyable one.

For Parents: 

• Make sure kids under 12 go trick-or-treating with a parent or other trusted adult.
• Give kids a flashlight or glowstick and add reflective tape to their costumes to make them more visible to motorists.
• Accompany your children (or send an older sibling) and make sure they don’t enter anyone’s home without your permission.
• Use makeup instead of a mask, so your child’s view is not obstructed.
• Make a trick-or-treat route map for your children.
• If you are concerned about sex offenders in community please consult the your state Sex Offender registry. Some states even prohibits registered sex offenders from participating in any holiday event involving children, including Halloween.
• Make sure kids cross only at corners — and look in all directions first. Remind them to use sidewalks or walk facing traffic so approaching cars can be seen.
• Caution them against crossing the street between parked cars, where drivers can’t see them.
• Warn children not to eat any goodies until you’ve had a chance to inspect them. When in doubt, throw it out.

For Kids:

•  Stay in neighborhoods you know well and only go to houses with exterior lights on.
• Only accept candy at the door; don't go inside.
• Cross the street only at corners and look both ways for oncoming cars.

For Drivers: 

• Slow down and watch for children, especially while backing out of driveways or making turns.
• If you're driving kids to an event, let them enter and exit the car only from the curb side of the vehicle.

For Candy-Givers: 

• Please turn on your outside lights as a guide to trick or treaters and their parents that you are a participating home. As a reminder Registered Sex Offenders in Illinois are not allowed to participate in Halloween or any other holiday event and should have their outside lighting off.
• Consider the age of the child to whom you're giving candy. Small hard candies can be a choking hazard for little kids.
• Clean up lawn accessories and clear your walkway so kids don't trip.
• Keep Fido and other pets inside.