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Halloween Safety Tips
Cedar Hill Fire Department is sharing Halloween safety tips with the public. The following are a list of the tips, broken down by responsibilities of kids, parents, residents and Pet Owners.
Kids' Safety Responsibilities
- Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
- Look left, right, and left again when crossing the street. Keep looking as you cross.
- Don't dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
- Always walk on sidewalks. If the neighborhood has no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far left as possible.
- Always choose well-lit streets.
- Watch for cars that are turning or backing up out of driveways.
- Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
- Enter homes only if you are with a trusted adult.
- Never accept rides from a stranger.
- Always walk and don't run from house to house.
Parents' Safety Responsibilities
- Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision.
- Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and choose light colors.
- Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child's vision.
- Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
- When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
- When shopping for costumes, wigs, and accessories, look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame-resistant.
- Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them.
- Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
Residents' Safety Responsibilities
- Remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over, such as garden hoses, toys, bikes, and lawn decorations.
- Check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
- Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
- Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.
Drivers' Safety Responsibilities
- Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
- Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians, and on curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
- Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
- Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic, and turn your headlights on earlier in the evening to spot children from greater distances.
- Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
Pet Owner's Responsibilities
- Trick-or-treat candies are not for pets
- Don't leave pets out in the yard on Halloween.
- Keep pets confined and away from the door
- Keep your outdoor cats inside several days before and several days after Halloween