Mendham, Chester Police Depts. Offer Safe Halloween Tips

MENDHAM, NJ — The Mendham Borough Police Department and Chester Police have each offered safe Halloween tips for both trick-or-treaters and drivers.

“Be Safe, Be Seen,” was in the message from the Chester Police Department, suggesting that children should carry something with them so they’re visible to drivers when trick-or-treating, such as wearing reflective clothing or carrying a reflective bag, holding a glow stick while they walk or using a flashlight.

“We want Halloween to be scary for all the right reasons,” the Chester Police Department wrote.

Chester Police provided more safety tips, from Safe Kids Worldwide, available here.

Mendham Borough Police Department’s tips came from AAA, alerting drivers to look out for kids “on streets, medians and curbs,” who may be excited to trick-or-treat and could “cross between parked cars.”

The police department’s tips also suggested parents should place reflective tape on “costumes, treat buckets and bags,” to enhance a child’s visibility to drivers. AAA additionally recommends that kids try on their costumes before they head out, making sure that their wigs, for example, don’t block their visibility to see potential hazards.

Other Halloween safety tips Mendham Borough Police provided were:

• To ensure kids trick-or-treat in groups or are supervised by adults if they’re younger than 12.
• For parents to instill in children to never enter homes when they are trick-or-treating.
• For kids not to eat candy until a parent or guardian checks them over.
• That kids should forgo masks and wear hats, wigs and makeup to see better.
• That costume accessories should be “safe,” with swords or knives, for example, in a soft foam, if they’re carried.
• That kids need to be taught to look both ways before they cross streets, to ensure safe foot travel, as they're out trick-or-treating.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.