Park County Sheriff’s Office Has Trick or Treat Safety Tips

The Park County Sheriff’s Office has released a list of safety tips for you and your Trick-Or-Treaters tomorrow to keep your families safe as they masquerade across the neighborhood.

Before Halloween:
• Choose bright costumes, and have children carry flashlights or glow sticks so they are easily visible. (Hint – Try adding reflective tape to costumes and candy bags!).
• Plan a trick-or-treating route in familiar neighborhoods with well-lit streets.
• Make sure children know your cell phone number, their home telephone number, and address in case you get separated. Consider giving them a cell phone so they can reach you easily.
• Teach children how to call 911 in an emergency.
• Teach children to say “NO!” in a loud voice if someone tries to get them to go somewhere, accept anything other than a treat, or leave with them. Tell them to try everything they can to escape, including; yelling, hitting, and kicking.
• Check the OffenderWatch® sex offender registry website and click on the link “Search for Offenders in your area,” so that you can avoid sex offender residences when trick-or-treating. The Park County OffenderWatch® page can be found at http://parkcountysheriff.net/ by clicking on the Sex Offender Registry link on the right.

On Halloween:
• Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision.
• If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
• Always walk younger children to the door to receive treats.
• Don’t let children enter a home unless you are with them.
• Be sure children do not approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless you are with them.
• DRESS WARM! The predicted high temperature for Halloween this year is 37 degrees.

For Drivers:
• Drive extra safely on Halloween. 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 day to spot children from greater distances.
• Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

For additional information go to the following websites: https://www.safekids.org/tip/halloween-safety-tips or https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/autumn/halloween. The Park County Sheriff’s office wishes everyone a safe and happy Halloween.