The Trumbull Police Department would like everyone to enjoy a safe and memorable Halloween experience. This family-oriented holiday continues to be celebrated on October 31st, and in order to assist the community in enjoying this fun-filled holiday the Trumbull Police Department would like to share a few guidelines and tips to help ensure that everyone is careful and has the very best and safest Halloween.
Guidelines for Parents/Guardians and Trick-or-Treaters
- Plan a trick-or-treating route in familiar neighborhoods with well-lit streets.
- Children should avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walking in groups and being accompanied by a responsible adult is preferred.
- Costumes should not be restrictive, or hinder the vision of the child.
- Choose bright costumes to be clearly visible at night (costumes with light reflecting materials are highly recommended).
- Carry a flashlight to help you see, and use glow sticks to help others see you.
- Reflective material added to costumes and candy bags are also very helpful.
- Walk and don’t run from house to house.
- Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
- Be careful when crossing a street. Make sure to look in both directions and make sure that there are no cars coming. If smaller children are with you, take their hand and help get them safely across the street, too. If the street has a stop light, wait until the cross walk light indicates that it is okay to cross, but still check before you cross, and make sure you look both ways.
- Always accompany younger children to the door to receive treats.
- Never go into a stranger’s house, or even ring their doorbell for treats, unless parents/guardians are present and say that it is okay to do so.
- Examine all treats for choking hazards or any tampering before eating them.
- Children should be cautioned to not consume treats before they can be carefully inspected by parents/guardians.
- Eat only factory-wrapped treats, and avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
- Homemade type treats (baked goods, fruits/nuts) should not be consumed unless parents/guardians know where they came from.
- Limit the amount of treats eaten.
- Trick-or-Treating should be enjoyed in well-lit communities and only well-lit homes should be approached.
- Be sure children do not approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless a parent/guardian is with them.
- Never accept rides from strangers.
- All traffic rules for pedestrians should be followed. Motor vehicle traffic will increase in our communities during the evening Halloween hours.
- Parents/guardians should be cautious as they move about with children and we want to remind drivers to be on the look-out for this increased pedestrian traffic.
- Make sure children know their parent’s/guardian’s cellphone number, their home telephone number, and address in case they become separated.
- Consider giving children a cellphone so they can reach their parent/guardian more easily.
- Teach children how to call 911 in an emergency.
- Teach children to say “NO!” in a loud voice if someone tries to get them to go somewhere, accept anything other than a treat, or leave with them. Tell them to try everything they can to escape, including yelling, hitting, and kicking.
Guidelines for those who pass out treats
- Distributing homemade treats should be avoided. These type treats will often be thrown out unless the parent/guardian knows the provider.
- Ensure that your home is well lit for the children if you intend to pass out treats.
- Keep pathways lit and clear of debris and obstructions.
- Be wary of those who approach your home seeking monetary donations of any kind (including the sale of products). Halloween is not the time for this. If you cannot verify that the solicitation is legitimate, do not participate.
- If you are concerned that a child is too young to be out alone, and you can confirm that there is no adult supervision, call your local police for assistance.
Always remember, if you observe suspicious activity in your neighborhood, call police right away. To contact the Trumbull Police Department please call 203-261-3665, or dial 911 for all emergencies. Have a safe and happy Halloween!