Halloween Safety Tips from The Chief John M. Ward
!0/27/13
With a little luck we should have decent weather for Halloween this year. As our children take to the streets on Halloween to trick-or-treat, I would like to remind everyone of a few safety tips to ensure that the treats are plentiful and tricks fun and safe.
To help ensure that this Halloween is fun and safe the Ridgewood Police Department will be deploying extra officers on both October 30th and Halloween.
Additionally we secured glow sticks and (AAA) Halloween bags which will be available to the public. (glow sticks and bags will be available at our police desk)
Here are some tips for helping keep young ones safe on Halloween:
Motorists -The National Highway Safety Administration and The CDC list Halloween as one of the top days for pedestrian involved accidents especially children. Because excited trick-or-treaters often forget about safety, motorists and parents must be even more alert. While the festivities may start earlier in the day, the most popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
•Slow down in residential neighborhoods and obey all traffic signs and signals.
•Drive at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit to give yourself extra time to react to children who may dart into the street.
•Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs. In dark costumes, they’ll be harder to see at night.
•Look for children crossing the street. They may not be paying attention to traffic and cross the street mid-block or between parked cars.
•Carefully enter and exit driveways and alleys.
•Turn on your headlights to make yourself more visible – even in the daylight.
• Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings
•Broaden your scanning by looking for children left and right into yards and front porches.
Parents
•Ensure an adult or older, responsible youth is available to supervise children under age 12.
•Plan and discuss the route your trick-or-treaters will follow.
•Instruct children to travel only in familiar areas and along established routes.
•Teach children to stop only at well-lit houses and to never to enter a stranger’s home or garage.
•Establish a time for children to return home.
•Tell children not to eat any treats until they get home.
•Review trick-or-treating safety precautions, including pedestrian and traffic safety rules.
•Make sure Halloween costumes are flame-retardant and visible with retro-reflective material.
Trick-or-Treaters
•Be bright at night – Carry a glow stick and wear retro-reflective tape on costumes and treat buckets to improve visibility to motorists and others.
•Wear disguises that don’t obstruct vision, and avoid facemasks. Instead, use nontoxic face paint.
•When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
•Ensure any props are flexible and blunt-tipped to avoid injury from tripping or horseplay.
•Walking Safety
Carry a flashlight containing fresh batteries, and place it face down in the treat bucket to free up one hand. Never shine it into the eyes of oncoming drivers.
•Stay on sidewalks and avoid walking in streets if possible.
•If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic.
•Look ALL ways and listen for traffic before crossing the street and keep looking as you cross.
•Cross streets only at the corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks. and never cross between parked vehicles or mid-block.
•Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
•Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them. (Remember STOP LOOK & WAVE)
•Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to
the left as possible.
Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
•Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
•Tell your parents where you are going.
We thank you for your cooperation and wish everyone a Happy and Safe Halloween
