No tricks, just treats: Tips for staying safe on Halloween

When it comes to having a good time on Halloween, following a few safety guidelines will make sure that the only thing your little goblins bring home with them are tasty treats.
While many parents are concerned about the kinds of candy their little trick-or-treaters collect, what they should probably be more concerned with is cars while they and their children are out trick-or-treating.
According to Firehouse.com’s Safe Kids fact sheet, children are four times more likely to suffer a pedestrian-related fatality during the Halloween holiday than any other time of the year.
Falls account for other injuries children suffer while trick-or-treating.
“We’re urging parents to be safe when it comes to the costumes they select for their children,” said Alabama Department of Public Health spokesperson Samille J. Jackson. “We want them to have fun, but we also want them to be safe.”
Jackson said children’s
costumes should be appropriately sized for them and if they have a mask, it should not obstruct the child’s vision.
Wearing face paint with costumes instead of a mask is another option Opelika police Capt. Allan Elkins suggests to help keep trick-or-treaters’ lines of sight clear.
Picking a costume that is reflective or adding reflective tape to costumes and treat bags will also increase their visibility to motorists.
Motorists must be mindful of pint-size pedestrians as well during the Halloween holiday, Auburn police Capt. Tom Stofer said. Stofer said police will be out in force during established trick-or-treat times and over Halloween weekend.
“Drivers should slow down and watch for children darting between cars,” Stofer said. “Children may be looking for the shortest, not the safest
distance between two points as they make their way to houses.”
Other trick-or-treating tips:
- Children should only go to well-lit homes.
- Children should always be accompanied by an adult.
- All treats should be inspected before being consumed.
- Children and parents should carry a flashlight.
- Cross streets at crosswalks and stay on sidewalks.
Source: Auburn Police Division

Enjoy these local
Halloween events:
- The cities of Auburn and Opelika will observe trick-or-treat activities from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. Opelika police ask motorists to drive with extreme caution. Both cities say police will be out in force.
- The city of Auburn Parks & Recreation Department will host the ninth annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, in downtown Auburn. All Trick-or-Treat activities are for children age 12 and younger, and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
- The University Program Council at Auburn University will sponsor a Halloween
Carnival from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, for community children. The carnival will be on Cater Lawn on the Auburn University campus and is open to the public.
- Students from Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction will light up the courtyard of Dudley Hall with the glow of more than 400 jack-o’-lanterns at the 21st annual Pumpkin Carve on Friday, Oct. 30. The event will begin at 9 a.m. as pumpkins go on sale for $4 for festival visitors and as students begin to create their jack-o’-lanterns for the evening’s competition. At
6 p.m., pumpkin-carving by AU students will end and the pumpkins will be lit. At 6:30 p.m., these pumpkins will be judged based on creativity, appearance and craftsmanship. Awards will be presented at
7 p.m., and the carved pumpkins will be available for purchase for a minimum donation of $5 to American Institute of Architecture Students beginning at 7:30 p.m.
- The AU Bookstore on campus is planning a Children’s Halloween Party from 4 to 5:15 p.m. with games, stories, crafts, trick-or-treating and prizes.