Carving pumpkins and putting on your costume for Halloween can be fun, but the Blytheville Police Department is reminding citizens that it is important to keep certain precautions in mind so everybody can have a safe and Happy Halloween.
The BPD is offering the following safety reminders:
-- Trick-or-treating is for children, who should be supervised by an adult with a cell phone and a flashlight.
-- Trick-or-treating should only be done in neighborhoods or locations the children and parents are familiar with.
-- Children should never enter a stranger's home.
-- Trick-or-treating by teens and young adults is immature and inappropriate. Older children and teens should leave the trick-or-treating to the younger ones and seek out supervised Halloween parties or visit haunted houses.
Trick-or-treating activities on Oct. 31 can start by late afternoon before it gets dark but should end by 8 p.m. Trick-or-treating activities that extend beyond this time are considered annoying.
-- Motorists should watch for children darting across the road and use extra caution when pulling in and out of driveways. If the parents decide to dress up in costume. they should not wear masks or other clothing items that may affect their vision while driving.
-- Children's costumes should be made of fire-retardant material and fit appropriately so the child does not become entangled or trip and fall. Children should avoid cutting across yards where there maybe unseen objects in their path. Falls have been reported to be the leading cause of unintentional injury on Halloween.
-- As tempting as it is, children should never eat treats while they are trick-or-treating. All treats should be brought home and inspected by an adult before they are eaten. Any treat that looks suspicious should be reported to the police. When in doubt, throw it out.