Yulee, Fla. – The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind everyone to be careful this Halloween. “Halloween should be filled with surprise and enjoyment, and following some common sense practices can keep events safer and more fun,” said Sheriff Bill Leeper.
Here are some tips from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office to enjoy a safe Halloween:
Motorists:
- Stay alert. Neighborhoods that don’t normally have a lot of pedestrian and bicycle traffic may experience an increase on Halloween night.
- Remember that kids will be excited, and may be trying to visit as many houses as possible within a specific time frame. Trick-or-treaters may suddenly dart into traffic from between parked cars.
- Be particularly cautious in areas where cars are parked along the side of the street.
- Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood.
- Be patient and SLOW DOWN. Give children lots of time top cross the street. Their costumes may impair their ability to see and hear you, and to get out of your way quickly.
- Remember that kids will be excited and may forget to “stop, look, and listen” before they cross the street.
Parents and Caregivers:
- Purchase or make costumes that are light colored and clearly visible to motorists.
- Decorate (and get the kids to help!) or trim costumes, “goody bags,” and other containers with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights.
- Reflective tape can be purchased at bicycle, hardware, and sporting goods stores.
- Make sure costumes are short enough so they don’t cause children to trip or fall.
- Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes.
- Masks should not impair a child’s hearing or field of vision. If necessary, enlarge ear and eye holes, or use makeup to create special effects. Tie hats and scarves to prevent them from slipping over children’s eyes.
- Be sure that at least one adult accompanies children at all times, with a definite route and timetable set before leaving for trick-or-treating. If you’re going door-to-door, select a route that has adequate street lighting.
- Try to complete the route before dark. If darkness falls have a flashlight or chemical glow stick handy.
- Approach only those houses with outside lights on. Not only are youngsters safer in a well-lighted place, but they also may be more welcome. Often homeowners who don’t wish to participate in the trick-or-treat ritual leave porch lights off as a signal. Respect their wishes and go on to the next home.
- Be certain that no treats are eaten until an adult inspects them, discarding any unwrapped or suspicious-looking items.
- Trick-or-treat bags should hang from children’s shoulders so that hands are free.
“The safety of our children is on our minds each and every day,” Leeper said. “The celebrations and traditions that go along with Halloween add to the importance of monitoring our children’s activity and giving them the guidance to help keep them safe.”
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