RALEIGH – North Carolina’s lead public safety agency is reminding parents to take some precautions to ensure their young goblins have a safe Halloween.

“Halloween is a great time for families to have fun together, but parents need to take some precautions before, during and after their children go trick-or-treating,” said Bryan Beatty, secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety.

Follow some basic safety guidelines and use common sense to ensure you and your children have a great Halloween.  Here are some tips to help make this Halloween a treat for all:

Safe Ghouls and Goblins

·        Costumes should be flame-retardant and short to prevent trips and falls.

·        Use make-up instead of masks.  Masks can block vision and be hot and uncomfortable.

·        Wear light-colored clothing or put reflective tape on costumes.

·        Trick-or-treat in groups, and stop only at familiar houses where the outside lights are turned on.  A parent should come along too.

·        Parents may want to map out a safe route for older children, and set guidelines on which houses they can visit.

·        If trick-or-treating after dark, stay on well-lighted streets and use flashlights to make sure you are seen.

·        Check out safe alternatives like trick-or-treating at local churches, town halls and shopping centers.

Safe Treats

·        Parents should give children a snack before they go trick-or-treating to keep them from digging into their goodies before adults have a chance to check for problems.

·        Parents should inspect all treats before they are eaten.

·        Don’t eat any treats until you get home.

·        Eat only those treats that are unopened and individually wrapped in their original wrappers.

Watch that child 

·        When driving on Halloween night, be on the lookout for children walking along the road. 

·        As always, if you will be driving on Halloween night, don’t drink alcohol.

Anyone who wants more information on how to make Halloween a safe time for all involved should contact the crime prevention officer at their local police or sheriff’s department.

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