How to: Staying Safe on Halloween

Halloween is an exciting night for kids and teens all across the nation. However, the vast array of costumes and candy seen on October 31 can sometimes make people forget about their safety. Here is a few precautions that should be taken seriously by anyone planning to drive or trick-or-treat on the scariest night of the year.

The usual times kids trick-or-treat is between 5:30-9pm, which means drivers should be extra vigilant during those times. Driving slowly in neighborhoods with your headlights on substantially decreases the chances of accidentally running over a small child. Drivers must also remember that kids are not the smartest and will run across the street at any given time to get to the house with the biggest candy bars. When backing out of driveways, drivers should back up slowly to give trick-or-treaters time to notice you and get out of the way.

For trick-or-treaters, the biggest safety tip is to throw away any candy that is already open. These open candies may contain drugs that were put there by evil people that should not be alive. Going through your candy stash with an adult will decrease the chance of missing an open wrapper. Wearing glow sticks or any reflective material on your costume will make it easier to be seen by drivers. Also, always look both ways before crossing the street and always cross at a crosswalk or an intersection if you are in a neighborhood. Trick-or-treating in a group is also recommended, so that it is harder to get lost and you are less likely to be kidnapped.

Whether you are driving or trick-or-treating, following these tips will guarantee a fun and safe Halloween night!