In Kennett Square Borough we encourage the community to Trick or Treat from 6 PM - 8 PM on October 31, 2023.  Please see the below tips shared by the Kennett Square Police Department.

Halloween is a time for spooky thrills and imagination, but the holiday also brings some extra risks for children and teens. Did you know that child pedestrian injuries are more likely on Halloween than on any other night of the year? Help keep Halloween fun and safe for your family with these tips.

Halloween street smarts

• Always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds. If trick-or-treating doesn't start until after dark where you live, consider checking with your town or park district for Halloween activities offered earlier in the day. Research shows that evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. are the riskiest times of day for child pedestrians.

• If your older children are trick-or-treating alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home and get flashlights with batteries for everyone.

• Talk with kids about the risk of distracted walking. This includes text messaging, talking on or looking at the mobile phone and listening to music.

• Cross the street as a group in established crosswalks. Most (62%) child pedestrian traffic fatalities occurred mid-block, rather than at intersections. Make sure kids know not to cross the street between parked cars or out of driveways or alleys.

• Don't assume cars will stop just because they have the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters.

• Stay on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic. Only go to homes with a porch light on and, ideally, a well-lit pathway

Stranger danger & tricky people

• Older children should travel in groups and create a "buddy system" to get each other home safely.

• Caution kids never enter a home or car for a treat. Notify law enforcement authorities immediately about any suspicious or unlawful activity.

• Review with your child how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they ever have an emergency, get lost or are prone to wander. See "Help Prevent Your Child from Going Missing" for tips.

Costume safety tips

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.

• Make sure that shoes fit well, and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, getting caught on objects or coming into contact with firepits.

• Look for "flame resistant" on the costume labels. Wigs and accessories should also clearly indicate this.

• Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes and blocking vision.

• Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives to masks. Test makeup ahead of time on a small patch of your child's skin to ensure there are no unpleasant surprises or allergic reactions on the big day. Toxic ingredients have been found in cosmetics marketed to teens and tweens.

• Avoid any sharp or long swords, canes or sticks as a costume accessory. Your child can easily be hurt by these accessories if he or she stumbles or trips.

• Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye exam and a prescription from an eye care professional. While packaging for decorative lenses may claim "one size fits all," or "no need to see an eye specialist," wearing decorative contact lenses without a prescription is dangerous. It can cause serious eye problems that can lead to permanent vision loss.

Healthy Halloween tips

• Consider offering non-edible goodies to trick-or-treaters. Halloween is one of the trickiest days of the year for children with food allergies. Food Allergy Research & Education's Teal Pumpkin Project suggests items such as glow sticks, spider rings, vampire fangs, pencils, bubbles, bouncy balls, finger puppets, whistles, bookmarks, stickers and stencils.

• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats before eating them. Though tampering is rare, it can happen. Also, many cannabis edibles look like regular candy could get accidentally mixed up with Halloween treats. Closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items. Give your child a good meal before trick-or-treating to discourage sampling.

• Keep an eye on what your child has in their mouth at all times while trick-or-treating. Keep in mind that babies and toddlers should not have hard candies, caramel apples, popcorn, gum, small candies (jellybeans, etc.), gummy candy, pumpkin seeds or anything with whole nuts. Candy wrappers, stickers, small toys or temporary tattoos can be a choking hazard too.

source: www.healthychildren.org/