| As Halloween quickly approaches, Chief Brian Pesce and the Bordentown Township Police Department want to remind families of several important safety tips as they prepare to take their children trick-or-treating this year. |
| “On behalf of the entire Bordentown Township Police Department, we want to make sure our residents have a safe and happy Halloween,” Chief Pesce states. “We ask that trick-or-treaters and their families follow these safety guidelines to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable night.” |
- Only approach well-lit houses and always travel in small groups.
- Wear clothing that is bright, reflective and flame retardant.
- Use flashlights or glow sticks for guidance on sidewalks, walkways and when crossing the street.
- Make sure masks have eye-holes large enough to see any tripping hazards or oncoming traffic, and mouth openings large enough to breathe easily.
- Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
- Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
- Watch for cars that are turning or backing up.
- Wear sturdy shoes and temperature appropriate clothing under costumes.
| Parents and guardians should: |
- Supervise children under 12 years old.
- Establish a designated curfew for older children.
- Make sure children are wearing safe costumes that fit well and don’t drag on the ground.
- Apply reflective tape to your child’s arms, legs and treat bags.
- Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars and be especially careful around driveways and alleys.
- Have children wear flashing reflector lights on belt loops or on bag handles, the blinking light provides great added safety feature for trick-or-treaters.
- Assure costume accessories such as swords and other pointed objects are made with soft and safe materials.
Drivers should:
- Be especially alert and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
- Slow down in residential neighborhoods. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
- Reduce any distractions inside your car, such as talking on the phone or eating, so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
- Keep inside and outside lights on during trick-or-treat hours
- Avoid placing lit candles and jack-o-lanterns on doorsteps and walkways where costumes could brush against them and cause burns or fire
- Only hand out candy that is packaged and wrapped
- Avoid handing out small toys that could cause choking or lead poisoning for small children
| Additionally, any suspicious person or vehicle should immediately be reported to the Bordentown Township Police Department by calling 609-298-4300 OR 9-1-1 in an emergency. |
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