RivCo Halloween Safety Tips For Revelers, Trick-Or-Treaters

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Throughout some of Riverside County, police presence may be heightened for the Halloween evening as officers scan for impaired drivers on a historically busy night.

Law enforcement agencies and health institutions across the county are also offering safety tips — from making your child's costume more visible to designating a driver for your Halloween night out to inspecting your trick-or-treating candy.

Driver, Pedestrian Safety

In Menifee, the police department has assigned more officers to patrol the city on Thursday. The department is asking motorists and pedestrians to take extra steps to ensure safety during celebratory activities.

"As families and children enjoy the spooky fun of Halloween, it's important for drivers to do their part in keeping our streets safe," Menifee police Chief Chris Karrer said. "If you plan on celebrating (with liquor), make sure you have a game plan to use a designated driver or ride-share service."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provided the department with funding for additional patrols this Halloween as October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, the agency said.

According to the agency, in 2022, 7,522 pedestrians were killed and more than 67,000 pedestrians were injured nationwide.

"Always make certain to stay in lit areas and utilize sidewalks, cross at corners and never in the middle of the street," the Banning Police Department said.

Motorists are urged to keep a close eye out for an increased number of pedestrians — mostly children trick-or-treating — on streets and to slow down, being especially careful at intersections and turning into or backing out of driveways.

"Never drive distracted or impaired," the Menifee Police Department stated.

Parents are strongly advised to keep a close eye on their children during Halloween as it is more likely that more drivers and several impaired drivers could be on the road.

The Riverside Medical Clinic has offered safety tips about children dressing up this Halloween.

• Make sure your children can be seen: Have your child carry a glowstick, a flashlight or add reflective tape to your child’s costume.
• Wings, capes and tails can often be oversized and cause hazards. Avoid anything that can cause kids to trip or come into contact with flames.
• Prop guns and knives could be mistaken for the real thing. Make sure canes, sticks and swords aren’t sharp or tooling.
• Makeup is a better choice than a mask because it won’t block vision. If the costume calls for a mask or hat, ensure your child’s eyesight isn’t hindered.
• Decorative contact lenses should never be used, RMC said. They can cause eye infections that could lead to permanent vision loss.

Twice as many kids die while walking on Halloween than on any other day, according to SafeKids.org. The clinic offered safety tips to avoid such a scenario.

• Never assume a car can see you and will stop.
• A parent or adult should always accompany young children.
• If older children are going out, agree to a route beforehand and a specific time for them to return home.
• Stay on well-lit streets and only go to homes with a porch light on — and yours should be on, too.
• Remove anything from your yard or front porch that could cause a child to trip, including wet leaves.
• Teach kids never to enter a home or a car for a treat.
• Carry a flashlight and a cell phone with you.
• Tell your inexperienced teen driver not to drive on Halloween.

Candy Safety

It can be tempting to let your child begin snacking on their candy stache before returning home, but health officials warn against this.

"Check it carefully and throw away anything that’s unwrapped or spoiled. This is also important if your child is allergic to nuts," the Riverside Medical Clinic said.

For those passing out candy, healthier treats like stickers, bubbles and spooky jewelry, or gum, sunflower seeds, mini pretzels, raisins, and coupons for smoothies or frozen yogurt are also recommended by the clinic.

City News Service contributed to this report.