Halloween safety

Keep your little trick-or-treaters safe this Halloween. Halloween is a fun and exciting time of year for kids of all ages, but it can pose some potential hazards. The Calgary Police Service would like to remind parents, drivers and homeowners about a few tips that will make Halloween safe and fun for everyone.

If you notice any suspicious treats or activities, call police at 403-266-1234.

Halloween tips for trick-or-treaters and their parents

• A bright costume with reflector tape will make children more visible to drivers.
• Costumes should not be highly flammable, or interfere with easy walking.
• If children are wearing masks, the masks shouldn’t interfere with their vision: better yet, use face paint instead.
• Try to trick-or-treat while it’s still light out.
• An adult should accompany younger children.
• Older kids who are mature enough to be unsupervised should travel in a group.
• Parents should help their kids plan a route and set a time to be home.
• Remind children never to go beyond the doorway, and not to talk to strangers.
• Parents should also remind children to stay on the sidewalk and only cross the street at intersections.
• Let your children know not to take shortcuts through alleys and abandoned areas, but to stay in populated, well-lit areas. It's a good idea for kids to carry a flashlight and to have a cell phone or some change for a pay phone in case there’s a problem.
• An adult should inspect the candy to make sure it hasn’t been tampered with.

Halloween tips for homeowners

• Turn on your porch light to let children know they’re welcome (or vice versa).
• Remove obstacles such as lawn ornaments and gardening tools from yards.
• Place decorations out of the way so that nobody trips.
• The safest way to light a jack-o’-lantern is with battery-powered lights. If you use candles, make sure the flame can’t come into contact with a child’s costume.

Halloween tips for drivers

• When children get excited, they tend to forget the most basic safety rules, especially around traffic. If you’re driving, slow down and be extra cautious in residential areas.
• Drive defensively - expect children to dart out from between parked cars.
• Watch carefully for people using pedestrian crossings.

The Calgary Police Service is proud to participate in UNICEF Alberta’s annual Partners for Safety Program. The program unites Calgary’s emergency services with community organizations to provide safety information and patrol Calgary communities on Halloween night.