Full Notification

2015 Halloween Safety Information

Trick-or-Treating Hours:

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

If exiting your vehicle to participate in trick or treating, remember to remove the vehicle keys and not leave any valuables in your vehicle.

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.