As Halloween quickly approaches, the Bordentown Township Police Department want to remind families of several important safety tips as they prepare to take their children trick-or-treating this year.

Children should:

Only approach well-lit houses and always travel in small groups.
Wear clothing that is bright, reflective and flame retardant.
Use flashlights or glow sticks for guidance on sidewalks, walkways and when crossing the street.
Make sure masks have eye-holes large enough to see any tripping hazards or oncoming traffic, and mouth openings large enough to breathe easily.
Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
Watch for cars that are turning or backing up.
Wear sturdy shoes and temperature appropriate clothing under costumes.

Parents and guardians should:

Supervise children under 12 years old.
Establish a designated curfew for older children.
Make sure children are wearing safe costumes that fit well and don’t drag on the ground.
Apply reflective tape to your child’s arms, legs and treat bags.
Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars and be especially careful around driveways and alleys.
Have children wear flashing reflector lights on belt loops or on bag handles, the blinking light provides great added safety feature for trick-or-treaters.
Assure costume accessories such as swords and other pointed objects are made with soft and safe materials.

Drivers should:

Be especially alert and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
Slowdown in residential neighborhoods. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Reduce any distractions inside your car, such as talking on the phone or eating, so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.

Homeowners should:

Keep inside and outside lights on during trick-or-treat hours
Avoid placing lit candles and jack-o-lanterns on doorsteps and walkways where costumes could brush against them and cause burns or fire
Only hand out candy that is packaged and wrapped
Avoid handing out small toys that could cause choking or lead poisoning for small children

Additionally, any suspicious person or vehicle should immediately be reported to the Bordentown Township Police Department by calling 609-298-4300 OR 9-1-1 in an emergency.

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