Halloween is just around the corner. Kids will soon take to the streets dressed up in their adorable costumes and it's our job as parents and neighbors to keep them safe. To help ensure that the little ghouls and goblins have a fun more than frightful time, I had the pleasure to seat down with Village of El Portal's Interim Chief of Police Ronnie Hufnagel who shared with us a few basic Halloween safety tips, whether you are accompanying young trick-or-treaters or handing out candy at home.
What parents can do to keep their kids safe during Halloween?
1. Plan your route in advance and familiarize with it.
2. Put tape reflectors on the Halloween costumes so that the cars can see the kids.
3. Avoid the masks as they obstruct the kids' vision. If possible, use non-toxic face painting instead.
4. Go to house that have lights.
5. Check your children candies before they eat them. If anything looks like it has been opened or it doesn't come from the original package, trow it away.
What are the things that parents should keep in mind when sending their kids out for trick or treat without an adult?
1. If your children are over 12 and responsible enough, they should go in a group of no less than 2 buddies.
2. Make a map with your child using the app Life360 so that you can follow where your child is going. And if your child goes beyond that map, the app will alert you.
3. Children should only be getting candies at the front door, they should never go inside of a house. if an adult tells them to go inside, they need to go away from there.
What can people do to make their houses safer for little trick or treaters?
As a homeowner make sure that the lights in your house are on and that the area in front of your door is cleaned out because kids are wearing costumes and you don't want them to trip and fall. When giving candies to kids, always step outside of your house.
What should I tell my child to do if they get lost or separated from me or from their group?
1. Tell your younger children that if they get separated and a stranger comes up to them saying "Mommy is over there and she wants me to take you where she is" they should ask this person "What is the password?". If this person doesn't know the password, you should teach your child not to go.
2. Train your children how to call you by your name if they don't see you. Out there are lot of kids calling for mommy and you want be able to hear your child calling you mommy.
3. Teach your children to go to a police officer or to a mommy with kids and tell her you are lost.
What will El Portal Police be doing for Halloween?
On October 31st, at 6.30-8.30pm, El Portal Village is having a Halloween Block party on 87th street from 3rd to 4th avenue. With the help of the firefighters, we will lose up the block, set up a theme-decorated table and distribute candies to children.
