RELEASE: Don't Be Spooked - Be Safe On Halloween

LYNNWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Don’t Be Spooked: Be Safe on Halloween

LYNNWOOD, WA (Oct. 26, 2015) –While Halloween is supposed to be scary, parents shouldn’t be afraid to teach their children how to be safe. Halloween is one of the most dangerous days of the year for child pedestrians so it’s essential for parents to prepare their children properly to stay safe while trick-or-treating.

Here are some safety tips from the Lynnwood Police Department:

• Go trick-or-treating with a grown-up. If kids are mature enough to go trick-or-treating without supervision, make sure they stick to a predetermined route with good lighting.
• Take advantage of one of your community’s pre-planned indoor events.
• Make sure your costume lets you see and hear perfectly. You need to watch and listen for cars.
• Wear brightly colored clothing, use glow sticks and carry a flashlight so drivers can see you.
• Have an adult check all treats before eating them. If in doubt, throw it out.
• Cross streets safely. Cross at a corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Try to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them. Look left, right and left again when crossing, and keep looking as you cross. Walk, don’t run, across the street.
• Walk on well-lit sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk in familiar areas with minimal street crossings.
• Be a safe pedestrian around cars. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
• Be especially alert. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours occur during the typical rush-hour period, between 5:30-9:30 pm.
• Drive slowly. Slow down and anticipate heavier than usual pedestrian traffic.
• Lights on. Be sure to drive with your full headlights on so you can spot children from greater distances.

Here are a few fire safety tips from our Fire Marshal's Office:

• Use a battery-operated candle or glow-stick in jack-o-lanterns and avoid using candles. 
• When choosing costumes, stay away from long trailing fabric.
• Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decorations away from open flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters.
• Teach children to stay away from open flames including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them.
• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes. Make sure all smoke alarms in the home are working. 

Contact:
Lisa Wellington, Crime Prevention Specialist
lwellington@ci.lynnwood.wa.us

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