Dear Parents, In the interest of making the upcoming Halloween Holiday a safe and enjoyable event the Abington Police Department is respectfully requesting that you review this information with your children prior to "trick or treating".   All parents should have a discussion with their children about respecting other people’s property and, most importantly, adhering to the following safety tips:

Trick-or-Treaters
 
Older children should “trick or treat” in a group of at least 3 or more;
Wear a watch you can read In the dark;
Obey traffic signals;
Children should only “trick or treat” in familiar and well lit neighborhoods;
Children should wear costumes that are light colored or garbed with reflectors;
Children should not wear masks or use make-up that interferes with proper vision or hearing and avoid wearing their mask while walking from house to house;
Children should carry flashlights with new batteries or glow sticks;
Children should not carry hard plastic or wood props such as daggers or swords. Substitute with foam rubber which is soft and flexible;

Adults and children should watch for traffic at all times, even on side streets. Remember that Halloween is on a Sunday night this year!;
 "Trick or Treaters” should go to all the houses on one side of the street before they cross the street to the houses on the other side. Do not zig zag back and forth.;
 “Trick or Treaters” should stay on the sidewalks, driveways and walkways to avoid ruts or holes on the lawn. (no sidewalks) walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic;
 Even though tampering is rare “Trick or Treaters” should not accept unwrapped or unpackaged candy. Parents should inspect all candy before anything is eaten.

Parents
 
Make your child eat dinner before heading out;
Adults should accompany young children;
Parents should clearly know the “trick or treat” route that their children will be taking;
If you buy a costume, look for one made of flame-retardant material;
Children should carry quarters so they can call home;
Homeowners
 
Make sure your yard is clear of such things as ladders, hoses, dog leashes, and flower pots that can trip anyone;
Batterypowered jack o’lantern candles are preferable to a real flame;
If you do use candles, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing;
Make sure paper or cloth yard decoration won’t be blown into a flaming candle;
Healthy food alternatives for trick-or-treaters include packages of low fat crackers with cheese or peanut butter filling, single-serve boxes of cereal. Packaged fruit rolls, mini boxes of raisins and single-serve packets of low-fat popcorn that can be microwaved later;
Non-food treats: plastic rings, pencils, stickers, erasers, coins.

Drivers
 
Motorists should drive well below the speed limit up to an hour before and after the posted “trick or treat” hours;
Go slow, slow, slow all evening. (Adult Halloween partiers should have a designated driver.)

1.) Children should trick-or-treat during daylight hours.
2.) Children should never be allowed to go out alone on Halloween.
3.) Children should never eat any treats until they have been examined.
4.) All fruit should be cut and and closely examined before eating.
5.) Advise children that they should never enter strangers’ homes.
6.) Never invite children into your home.
7.) Children should never accept rides from strangers.
8.) Children should never take shortcuts through backyards or alleys.
9.) Set a specific time limit for your children to be out on Halloween night.
10.) Give wrapped homemade treats only to children you know.
11.) Instruct children not to stray from their group.
12.) A responsible adult should escort children while trick-or-treating.
13.) Adult escorts should carry flashlights.
14.) Don’t leave your home unattended on Halloween night.
15.) Keep pets inside your home, or other safe place on Halloween night.
16.) Children should walk, not run, during their trick-or-treat activities.
17.) Parents should know what route their children will be taking.
18.) All costumes should be made of light-colored, fireproof material.
19.) Children should wear proper fitting, comfortable costumes and shoes.
20.) Props such as toy guns or swords should be made of pliable material.
21.) Realistic replica firearms should never be used.
22.) Masks should not be worn if they impair vision.
23.) Wigs should be fireproof and should not restrict vision.
24.) Children should always use sidewalks, not the street, for walking.
25.) Children should look in all directions before crossing the street

Respectfully,
                  
David G. Majenski, Chief of Police                                          

Barry A. Geraghty, Safety Officer