Friday, October 17, 2014

Halloween Safety Tips from the Abingdon Police Department



HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS
Who Can Trick or Treat and When?
*     In the Town of Abingdon, trick or treat visitations are restricted to children TWELEVE (12) years of age and under.
*     Curfew on Halloween evening is 10:00 p.m. All Halloween visits must end at this time.
Trick or Treat With an Adult
*     Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision.

*     Plan to make Trick or Treat visits in groups. It is always more fun with friends.

*     Visit homes that have a porch light on.

*     Accept your treats at the door. NEVER go into a stranger’s house.

*     Be cautious of animals, strangers, ghouls and goblins.
Walk Safely
*     Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
*     Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross. Constantly look for oncoming cars and low flying brooms!
*     Do not hide or cross the street between parked cars.
*     Put electronic devices away and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
*     Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
*     Walk, crawl, slither and sneak on sidewalks or paths, not in streets.
*     If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. 
*     Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
*     Watch for cars that are turning or backing up.
*     Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
Keep Costumes both Creative and Safe
*     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. 


Motorists Please Drive Extra Safely on Halloween
*     Slow down and stay 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 day to spot children from greater distances.


*    Popular trick-or-treating hours are from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

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