Trick or Treat

The Bryan Police Department encourages safety and supervision during the annual Trick-or-Treat season. Most Trick-or-Treaters will be out this Sunday evening October 31st. It is especially important for parents to adhere to a few safety rules for their children when they are trick-or-treating.
- Know your treaters route.
- Children should be accompanied by an adult. Older kids should stay in groups.
- Take a flashlight and/or a chemical glow stick to be more visible.
- Be sure costumes, shoes, and treat bags are safe.
- Trick-or-Treat at homes you know.
- Remind kids not to enter strangers' homes or cars.
- Set rules about not eating treats until kids get home. Be sure to inspect all treats before allowing kids to eat them.
- Never cross the street from between parked cars.
- Watch open flames from jack-o-lanterns as they can catch costumes and long wigs to catch on fire.
- Make sure that fake knives, swords, and guns are made from cardboard or other flexible materials to avoid accidental injury or worse, have them mistaken for the real thing!
It is also important to ensure that your home is safe and accessible to trick-or-treaters. As adults there are some very simple things we can do to make the evening safe everyone.
- Turn on your porch light.
- Move lit jack-o-lanterns off the porch where kids get bunched up if they are trick-or-treating in groups.
- Consider using a flashlights or LED simulated candles instead of real candles.
- Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard.
- If you don’t wish to give out candy and would still like to participate in Halloween, consider giving out stickers, trading cards, or similar items.
For adults who are celebrating, there are some things to consider when creating that "perfect" Halloween Costume.
- Make sure that any accessories, such as fake guns, knives, and other potentially dangerous items are not mistaken for the real thing.
- Fire safety and visibility are also important for adult costumes. Apply the same standards to adult costumes as you do to your children's.
- Remember adults that are dressed up can be pretty scary to young children.
Most of all, MOVING VEHICLES, can pose to be one of the biggest hazards to trick-or-treaters. Drivers have a hard time seeing people, especially at dusk and in dark costumes. To ensure the safety of all trick-or-treaters, young and old, be sure to drive slowly all evening, you never know what creature may suddenly cross your path.
Above all, make this Halloween a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. If you are not comfortable allowing your kids to trick-or-treat in the neighborhoods, there will be plenty controlled environments where families can go to enjoy the festivities. Check your local neighborhoods, businesses, and churches for these controlled activities.