To ensure Halloween is a memorable holiday, follow these easy tips to keep children safe.
- Young children should always trick or treat in the company of a responsible adult.
- If older children will be trick-or-treating with friends, agree on a route and set a time for their return home.
- Make sure that your child is old enough and responsible enough to trick-or-treat without adult supervision.
- Make sure unaccompanied older children have a cell phone with them if possible.
- Respect others and their property. Don’t cut through yards or across lawns. Stay on sidewalks.
- Instruct children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by a parent or guardian.
- Bring a flashlight along if trick-or-treating after dark and avoid wearing costumes that obstruct vision.
- Be alert to traffic, especially when crossing streets or walking past driveways.
- Instruct children that they should never enter the home of a stranger or get into a car with a stranger. Explain why this is not a good idea and what to do if someone they do no not know approaches them and tries to talk to them.
- Report any suspicious activity to the Riverside Police Department on the non-emergency number: 708-447-2127.