Take Extra Care When Little Spooks are Out

The Key West Police Department is ready for Halloween! Our Mounted Unit will be patrolling the New Town neighborhoods where most of the local trick-or-treating happens. During this special night for kids, there are a few tips to remember to keep our kids and community safe:

Though it’s highly unlikely that anyone in our small community would tamper with trick-or-treat goodies, it’s still a good idea to err on the side of caution. Children should be instructed not to eat any treats until they’re back at home and mom or dad has inspected them. Parents should make sure that candy wrappers are sealed. Fruit or homemade items should be thoroughly examined. If there is any doubt, throw it out.

When little ghosts and goblins take to the streets, the biggest threat they face is motor vehicle traffic — something for parents and drivers to keep in mind.

For motorists, extreme caution is the rule for Halloween night. Be prepared for children to run across the street, come out of nowhere, and be oblivious to traffic.

Children should be accompanied by adults when trick-or-treating. A responsible grown-up will be the person with a flashlight, leading the way when there’s a need to cross the street. It’s always best to stay close to home and to visit neighbors and friends that you know. Make sure children only approach homes that are well lit. Treats should be handed out at the door so that youngsters don’t have to enter the homes of strangers.

Surprisingly, simply falling down is also a leading cause of accidental injury on Halloween, the result of children tripping on their own costumes. Make sure their costume fits well and check that the child can see through any mask that he or she might be wearing.

Older children and teenagers need to be reminded that Halloween trick-or-treating is okay but vandalism will not be tolerated. Any deliberate act that damages property or causes harm to another person is a crime and police officers will treat it as such.

In addition to protecting children this Halloween, it is also important to protect property as well. Battery powered lights are always a safer alternative to candles inside pumpkins. If you decide to use candles, never leave them unattended, and make sure children are never left unsupervised around them.