Full Notification

Halloween is a fun tradition, but often times the excitement of the evening can cause children and adults to forget about being safe. There is no real trick to making Halloween a treat for the whole family, but following safety tips and using common sense can help you make the most of your Halloween season. The major dangers are not from witches or goblins, but rather from falls and vehicle/pedestrian collisions. Another major concern is what your children are given and how to identify candy that has possibly been tampered with.

Follow these simple tips to make Halloween safe and fun:

Parents:

Know the route your children will be taking if you aren’t going with them.
Make sure you set a time for them to be home.
Have your children eat a good dinner before going out.
Make sure your children are properly supervised while out.
Make sure they trick or treat in a group if you are not with them.
Children 12 years and younger should be accompanied by an adult.
Tell your children to never go into a stranger's house.
Tell your children to stay out of the street while walking.
Choose a costume that is brightly colored and easy to see in the dark.
Carefully inspect all food and candy before letting your child eat it (when in doubt, throw it out).

Trick or Treater's:

Carry a flashlight.
Stay on sidewalks.
Cross the street at intersections, never run out from behind a parked car.
Stay in familiar neighborhoods.
Make sure your costume fits you well.
Only approach houses that are well lit.
Walk from house to house, don't run.
Never take shortcuts, such as alleyways or empty fields.
Don't eat anything until your parents have had a chance to inspect it.

Children should also know the basics, such as their phone number and address in case of an emergency, and how to react if a stranger tries to approach them. If your child is late returning home or you cannot locate your child, immediately call 9-1-1 and report it to local law enforcement.

If you are planning on attending a Halloween party, consider the following:

In 2012, 23% of pedestrian fatalities on Halloween involved a drunk driver.
In 2012, 48% of all traffic fatalities on Halloween resulted from a drunk driving related accident.
Children are 2 times as likely to be hit and killed by a vehicle while walking on Halloween.
Drinking violations for criminal offenders increase by about 25% when Halloween is on a Friday.

If you would like further information about Halloween safety or other crime prevention topics, please contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Unit at 661-391-7559 or by email at [email protected]