Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween with the LAPD
Halloween has been celebrated on October 31st in the United States since the early 1800’s and is traditionally a family-oriented holiday when children get to dress up and enjoy candy and other treats. In order to assist the Los Angeles community in enjoying this fun-filled holiday as safely as possible, the Los Angeles Police Department has compiled the following Halloween safety tips for children and their parents. The LAPD is also pleased to present a brief History of Halloween and a profile of Jack-O-Lantern for families to enjoy in keeping with this the spookiest of cultural holidays.

The Los Angeles Police Department is also pleased to offer information on the Hispanic cultural holiday “El dia de los Muertos” (the day of the dead) celebrated on November 1st. Here is a short History of El dia de los Muertos presented for your enjoyment.

 

  1. Children should trick-or-treat during daylight hours.
  2. Children should never be allowed to go out alone on Halloween.
  3. Children should never eat any treats until they have been examined.
  4. All fruit should be cut and and closely examined before eating.
  5. Advise children that they should never enter strangers’ homes.
  6. Never invite children into your home.
  7. Children should never accept rides from strangers.
  8. Children should never take shortcuts through backyards or alleys.
  9. Set a specific time limit for your children to be out on Halloween night.
  10. Give wrapped homemade treats only to children you know.
  11. Instruct children not to stray from their group.
  12. A responsible adult should escort children while trick-or-treating.
  13. Adult escorts should carry flashlights.
  14. Don’t leave your home unattended on Halloween night.
  15. Keep pets inside your home, or other safe place on Halloween night.
  16. Children should walk, not run, during their trick-or-treat activities.
  17. Parents should know what route their children will be taking.
  18. All costumes should be made of light-colored, fireproof material.
  19. Children should wear proper fitting, comfortable costumes and shoes.
  20. Props such as toy guns or swords should be made of pliable material.
  21. Realistic replica firearms should never be used.
  22. Masks should not be worn if they impair vision.
  23. Wigs should be fireproof and should not restrict vision.
  24. Children should always use sidewalks, not the street, for walking.
  25. Children should look in all directions before crossing the street.