Halloween can be as frightening as it is fun. Scary stories, haunted houses, and jack-o-lanterns rule the day. Children dress up in costumes that stretch the imagination. We laugh, we cringe, and we marvel at their creativity. They knock on the doors of strangers and receive all manner of treats. In the United States Halloween celebrates goons, goblins, ghosts, and all things departed.
No wonder moms and dads all over America feel like they are rolling dice with fate as the tykes disappear into the darkness. Hopefully, Polly’s Guide to a Safe Halloween will alleviate some of that anxiety.
- Trick-or-Treat with a group andd take along a parent or a teen-aged brother or sister
- Check the Megan’s Law website for sex offenders in your neighborhood and avoid homes where sex offenders live
- Make sure that someone in your group has a cell phone with a charged battery
- Trick-or-Treat in neighborhoods you know, you trust and that are well lit
- Stay out of dark alleys, dark stairwells, or remote locations
- Discuss your Halloween route with your parents and the time you will return
- Wear clothing that is light in color and not too long. Add something that glows in the dark or is reflective
- wear make-up instead of a mask that can inhibit vision
- Take a flashlight and walk on the sidewalk
- Cross streets at the crosswalk and stay away from cars
- Stay outside the homes you visit
- Be sure all treats are wrapped and sealed. Eat them only after a parent checks them first
- Trust your feelings! Stay away from strange or uncomfortable situations
- If you do not feel safe Trick-or-Treating, do not Trick-or-Treat
- Have an FUN and SAFE Halloween!
