Crime & Safety

Halloween Safety: 15 Trick-or-Treating Tips

Make sure your Halloween stays safe and fun with these tips from the San Marino Fire Department.

Plenty of ghosts and scary creatures will be out on Halloween night, but make sure you don't get a real scare. Follow these trick-or-treating safety tips from the and these .

Also, make sure to post a photo of your child in his or her Halloween costume by 9 p.m. Monday to be considered for the . The grand prize winner gets a trip to meet celebrity Heidi Klum and a donation to a charity of his or her choice.

Before Nightfall on Halloween

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  • A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage children from eating Halloween treats before parents have a chance to examine them.
  • Always keep jack o’ lanterns and hot electric lamps away from drapes, decorations, flammable materials or areas where children will be standing or walking.  
  • Plan and review with your children the route and behavior that is acceptable to you. Accompany your children and agree on a specific time when older revelers must return home.
  • Along with flashlights for everyone, older children and escorts should wear a wristwatch and carry coins for non-emergency phone calls if they don’t have a cell phone. Remind children that 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any pay phone.

When Trick-or-Treating

  • A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
  • Use a flashlight to see and be seen by others.
  • Stay in a group and communicate where you will be going.
  • Only go to homes with a porch light on.
  • Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
  • Never enter a stranger’s home or car for a treat.
  • Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations. Always walk. Never run across a street.
  • Do not eat any treats until they are thoroughly checked by an adult at home.

After Trick-or-Treating

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  • Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
  • Try to apportion treats for the days following Halloween.
  • Make sure items that can cause choking (such as hard candies) are given only to those children of an appropriate age.


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