Halloween is a time for costumes, candy and community fun, but a little preparation can go a long way toward keeping the festivities safe for everyone.
For families planning to trick-or-treat, visibility is important. Adding reflective material to costumes, carrying a flashlight and choosing well-fitting shoes can help children remain visible and avoid trips and falls after dark. Costumes and masks should also allow children to see clearly and move comfortably.
Staying aware of traffic is equally important. Children should use sidewalks when available, cross streets at designated crossings and look both ways before crossing. Younger trick-or-treaters should be accompanied by a responsible adult, while older children should have a planned route and a way to contact their families.
Before enjoying Halloween treats, parents and caregivers should inspect candy and other packaged goodies, setting aside anything that appears tampered with or has damaged packaging. Children should also be reminded not to enter the homes or vehicles of people they do not know.
Safety is a shared responsibility. Drivers can help by slowing down in residential neighborhoods, watching carefully for pedestrians and remaining alert for children who may unexpectedly enter the roadway.
With a little planning and consideration for others, Roswell residents can help make Halloween enjoyable while keeping safety a priority this Halloween.
