Halloween is just around the corner! Kids love this holiday because they can dress up in their favorite costume and receive tons of candy! The Dallas Police Department wants to help your kids have a memorable Halloween with a few safety tips.

Some of your kids already know a few of the basic tips to being safe, such as how to cross the street and of course not to talk to or go with strangers. However, we know how exciting Halloween can be  and distract from routine practices. Therefore, we have compiled  some safety tips just for you and your kids to help keep everyone safe on Halloween night.

• Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
• Plan a trick-or-treating route in familiar neighborhoods with well-lit streets.
• Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. WALK and don’t run from house to house.
• Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
• Be careful when you cross a street. Make sure to look in both directions and make sure that there are no cars coming. If you have a little brother or sister with you, take their hand and help them get across the street, too. If the street has a stop light, wait until the cross walk light tells you that it is okay to cross now, but still check before you cross, look both ways.
• Choose bright costumes, and have children carry flashlights or glow sticks so they are easily visible. (Hint – Try adding reflective tape to costumes and candy bags!)
• Never, ever go into a stranger’s house or even ring their door for treats unless your parents are with you and say that it’s okay.
• Always walk younger children to the door to receive treats.
• Be sure children do not approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless you are with them.
• Never accept rides from strangers.
• Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
• Make sure children know your cellphone number, their home telephone number, and address in case you are 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.
• Don’t trick-or-treat in areas with no power or dim lighting. Although a street may seem clear, there may still be storm debris in the area.
• Drive cautiously as you head out to your Halloween festivities. There is a lot of vehicular traffic in the areas impacted by the storm. Traffic lights on flash should be treated as 4-way stops
• Attend functions that are indoors. Dallas Parks and Recreation has a ton of family-friendly Halloween events. A full list can be found here: http://bit.ly/2BVcG4w

If you see something or someone suspicious, don’t hesitate to call 911. You can also utilize the iWatchDallas app that can be downloaded to your smart device through Apple or Google Play. Have a safe and happy Halloween!

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