Halloween is a fun time for kids but also a time to think about your children’s safety. Here are some tips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
BEFORE HALLOWEEN:
- Choose bright costumes, and have children carry flashlights or glow sticks.
- Plan a trick-or-treating route in familiar neighborhoods with well-lit streets.
- Make sure children know your cellphone number, their home telephone number, and address in case you get separated.
- Consider giving them a cellphone so they can reach you easily.
- Teach children how to call 911 in an emergency.
- Teach children to say “NO!” in a loud voice if someone tries to get them to go somewhere, accept anything other than a treat, or leave with them. Tell them to try everything they can to escape, including yelling, hitting, and kicking.
ON HALLOWEEN:
- Make sure older children take friends and stay together while a trick-or-treating .
- Never send younger children out alone – they should be with a parent, guardian, or another trusted adult.
- Always walk younger children to the door to receive treats.
- Don’t let children enter a home unless you are with them.
- Be sure children do not approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless you are with them.
