October 10, 2022

Trick or treat is almost here – the time when little ghosts, goblins and, most likely, vampires, zombies and a superhero or two, will run door-to-door, excitedly collecting treats from their neighbors.

Remember to include safety as part of your plans before the big night arrives. Participants should limit their travels to well-lit, familiar areas, and never go trick-or-treating alone – it’s less fun and less safe. Also, be sure costumes are visible after dark and that costume masks don’t block the vision of the wearer. Carrying a flashlight or including reflective material or glow sticks as part of a costume improves visibility for all.

Motorists also should use extra caution during trick or treat hours, especially on narrower neighborhood streets without streetlights.

Additional safety tips include:

• Don’t use open flames in jack o’ lanterns or other Halloween decorations. Battery or electric-powered tea lights or glow sticks in jack o’ lanterns are much safer than candles.
• Wear flame-resistant costumes and never walk near lit candles or other open flames.
• Keep walking areas, steps and porches well-lit and free of obstacles to avoid falls.
  Wherever possible, use established crosswalks and look both ways before crossing the street.
• Inspect all treats before consuming to assure they have not been tampered with.
• Decorative lights should be approved by Underwriter’s Laboratory and carry a UL seal on the tag. Red UL marks indicate the lights are approved for indoor or outdoor use, while green UL tags indicate approval for indoor use only.
• Outdoor lights and decorations should be plugged into outlets that feature Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs).
• Indoor lights should not touch window treatments, carpet or furniture.
• Place all lights on a timer if you’ll be away from home and turn off all lights before you go to bed.