The Austin Police Department encourages safety and supervision for children throughout the year, especially on Halloween.
It is important for parents to follow a few safety precautions as children take to neighborhood streets for traditional trick-or-treating.
- Know your trick-or-treater’s route
- Take a flashlight
- Be sure costumes, shoes, and treat bags are safe
- Remind children not to enter a stranger’s home or car
- Set rules about not eating treats until your children are home. Inspect all treats before allowing kids to eat them.
- Candy that has been opened should be thrown away. Any homemade treats or fruit should be inspected closely and discretion used as to whether to consume.
- Remember drivers have a hard time seeing people, especially at dusk
- Never cross the street from between parked cars
- Watch open flames from jack-o-lanterns as they present a fire hazard for costumes and long wigs. Review the “stop, drop and roll” procedure in case your costume catches on fire.
- Only visit well-lit houses. Do not stop at dark houses.
- Don’t enter any homes unless you know the people
- Carry a spare Halloween bag — in case it breaks or your original one is filled
- Make sure fake knives, swords, and guns are made from cardboard or other flexible materials to avoid accidental injury or having them mistaken for the real thing
- Don’t cut across yards. Use sidewalks and stay out of back yards.
- Follow traffic signals and do not jaywalk or cross at mid-block
- Always watch for cars backing up or turning
- Never accept rides from strangers
- Respect other people and their property
- Be polite and say “thank you”
It is also important to ensure that your home is safe and accessible to trick-or-treaters. There are some very simple steps to make the evening safe for everyone.
- Turn on your porch light
- Move lit jack-o-lanterns to a safe area for fire safety. Kids often trick-or-treat in groups and the area may get congested.
- Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard
- Drive slowly all evening. You never know what little “creature” may suddenly cross your path.
- Report any suspicious or criminal activity to the police
For adults celebrating Halloween, there are some things to consider when wearing that “perfect” costume.
- Make sure any accessories, such as fake guns, knives, and other potentially dangerous items are not mistaken for the real thing
- Fire safety and visibility are important for adult costumes. Apply the same standards to adult costumes as you do to your children’s.
- Remember adults that are dressed up can be scary to young children
The Austin Police Department wishes everyone a safe and fun Halloween.