Halloween Safety Tips

City of Richland Center Trick or Treat hours are 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. on Halloween evening (October 31). Please leave a front porch light on if you wish to be visited by trick-or-treaters. Following are a few safety tips for trick-or-treaters.

General Safety

• Plan your route with your family ahead of time. Pick streets that are well lit and in your own neighborhood. Parents should provide a watch and indicate a time children should return home.
• Trick-or-Treat with a parent, older sibling, or with a group of children if someone older can’t go with you.
• Children should go only to houses where the porch lights are on, and never go into a house. Children should walk from house to house – NEVER RUN!
• Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
• Children should carry a flashlight after dark.

Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe

• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
• Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
• Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
• When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Drive Extra Safely on Halloween

• Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
• Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
• Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
• Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
• Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.