Across Collier County, children are preparing to dress up as their favorite characters and walk neighborhoods looking to score a bag full of treats.
Halloween is Thursday, Oct. 31.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office offers these tips to help parents keep children safe while they’re out trick-or-treating:
Make sure children are dressed safely
* Allow them to wear only flame-retardant costumes.
* Keep costumes short to prevent falls.
* Use makeup instead of masks when possible. Masks can obstruct vision.
* Wear light colors or put reflective tape on costumes.
Make trick-or-treating trouble free
* Children should travel in groups when trick-or-treating. Adults should accompany young children.
* Map out a safe route for children and make sure they stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.
* Trick-or-treat while it’s still light outside. If it’s dark, make sure someone has a flashlight.
* Make sure kids know to not enter strange houses or cars.
* Teach children to say “No,” or, “This is not my mother/father” in a loud voice if someone tries to get them to go somewhere, accept anything other than a treat, or leave with them.
* Teach children to know their home phone number, in case they get lost or separated.
Treats
* Tell children to not eat their treats until they come home.
* Check out all treats before your children eat them.
* Let kids eat only unopened candies and treats that are in their original wrappers.
