Message from the Winthrop Police Department - Halloween Safety Tips

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

THE TRICK TO A HAPPY HALLOWEEN IS HAVING A SAFE HALLOWEEN!

The Winthrop Police Department wishes Winthrop residents a happy and safe Halloween! The department encourages safety and supervision during the annual Trick-or-Treat season. Halloween is fun for people of all ages, but it is most important for parents to closely adhere to a few guidelines to ensure your night runs smoothly!

IMPORTANT SAFETY TIPS

• Parents should establish a route for children, stay within familiar areas and surroundings
• Remind kids not to enter strangers' homes or cars

• Remind children to avoid home without an outside light on

• Attach your phone number and address to your children’s costume

• Take a flashlight

• Be sure clothing/costumes are bright, reflective and flame retardant
• Set rules about not eating treats until kids get home. Be sure to inspect all treats before allowing kids to eat them.

• When in doubt, throw it out! Candy that has been opened should be thrown away. Any homemade treats or fruit should be inspected closely.

• Never cross the street from between parked cars.

• Watch open flames from jack-o-lanterns as they can catch costumes and long wigs on fire.

• Make sure that fake knives, swords, and guns are made from cardboard or other flexible materials to avoid accidental injury or worse, have them mistaken for the real thing!

It is also important to ensure that your home is safe and accessible to trick-or-treaters. As adults there are some very simple things we can do to make the evening safe everyone.

• Turn on your porch light.

• Move lit jack-o-lanterns off the porch where kids get bunched up if they are trick-or-treating in groups.

• Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard.

• Drive slowly all evening-you never know what creature may suddenly cross your path.

• Report any suspicious or criminal activity to the police