Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Hallowe'en Safety Tips

(Dufferin County, ON) - As the day quickly approaches, the Dufferin County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) wishes to remind children and parents to practice safety precautions to make the evening a memorable one.

For Parents:
  • Discourage the use of masks on your children. Masks make it hard for children to see what’s around them, including cars. Make-up is a better alternative.
  • Costumes should fit properly to prevent trips and falls. Avoid oversized shoes, high heels, long dresses or capes. Select costumes with bright colors to increase your child’s visibility. Add on reflective tape to costumes if possible.
  • Children under 10 should be accompanied by an adult. By the age of 10, some children are ready to go trick or treating with a group of friends. 
  • Provide your child with a flashlight. A cell phone is a good idea if you have one.
  • Draw a map outlining the route they should follow and set a curfew.
  • Tell your children not to eat anything until they get home.
  • Let your children draw the faces on pumpkins with a marker and leave the carving to parents.
  • Start trick or treating early before it gets too dark.

For Children and Youth:
  • Carry a white bag or pillowcase for your candy, or add some reflective tape.
  • Bring a cell phone in case you need to make an emergency phone call.
  • Always travel in groups. Be sure there are at least 3 of you at all times.
  • Don’t visit houses that are not well lit. Never go inside a stranger’s house.
  • Walk on the sidewalk whenever possible. If there’s no sidewalk, walk on the side of the road facing traffic. Don’t criss-cross back and forth across the street. Never cross between parked cars, always at crosswalks, street corners or intersections.
  • Don’t eat your treats before you get home. When home, ask your parents to look through your treats with you to make sure everything is okay.

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