Full Notification

2012 HALLOWEEN SAFETY INFORMATION


Trick-or-Treating Hours:

The Sun Prairie Police Department recommends the following time: October 31 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.

The following safety information is provided by the Sun Prairie Police Department and WI Department of Health Services:

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/health/injuryprevention/halloween.htm

Costume Safety:

 Choose costumes that are light-colored and more visible to motorists.
 Use reflective tape to decorate costumes and candy bags to increase visibility of children to drivers.
 Use make-up rather than a mask; if your child’s costume does include a mask, make sure it fits snugly and that the eyeholes are large enough to allow full vision.
 Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes.
 Costumes should be short enough that a child will not trip and fall.
 Do not use toy weapons as a part of any costume.
 Costumes should be made of flame-retardant material.
 Do not use novelty contacts such as “cat eyes” or “snake eyes.”
Pedestrian Safety:
 Engage in Halloween activities in well-lit areas.
 Do not Trick-or-Treat alone.
 Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision.
 Stay on sidewalks and obey all traffic signs/signals.
 Remind children to walk, not run, and to only cross streets at crosswalks.
 Be sure your children are accompanied by a responsible adult who has a flashlight. Flashlights or chemical light sticks should be used so that children can see and be seen by motorists.
Halloween Home Safety:
 Turn on an outside light if welcoming trick-or-treaters.
 Make sure your front porch is well-lit.
 Remove obstacles from your lawn, porch, or steps if you are expecting trick-or-treaters.
 Avoid using candle-lit jack-o-lanterns if possible. If you do use candles, don’t place them near curtains, furnishings, or decorations. Move them off porches where children’s costumes may ignite.
 Keep your pets in another room when you are expecting trick-or-treaters.
 Small children should not carve pumpkins; instead, allow them to draw the designs on the pumpkin and adults may carve.
Treat Safety:
 Instruct children to wait until they are home to eat any candy.
 Check candy and novelty toys for potential choking hazards.
 Make sure packaging doesn't have any tears or tampering.
 Throw away anything that looks suspicious.
Motorist:
 Slow down, especially in residential areas.
 Watch for children darting out from parked cars.
 When driving children around, use child safety seats or seatbelts, and have children get out of cars on the curb side, not facing traffic.
 Use extreme caution when backing.
Sun Prairie Police Department:
The Sun Prairie Police Department will be proactively patrolling the neighborhoods of our community. The department can be contacted at 608.837.7336 to report any problems, observations, or safety concerns.