With the upcoming Halloween celebration the Cornelius Police Department would like to remind our residents of important safety guidelines that should be observed. Remember the following when preparing your home and children ready for trick-or-treating!

Around the house:

Many people enjoy transforming their homes into eerie scenes. Be sure to keep the path leading up to your door free of obstacles for the little ones, especially those with masks who might have trouble seeing in dim light.

Keep candle-lit jack o'lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables and keep them out of the reach of pets and small children.
Before you light those candles in your pumpkin, consider using inexpensive safety glow sticks or battery operated LED light. Nothing says spooky like a glowing green jack-o-lantern!Keep pets indoors on Halloween to protect them from hazards and preventing them from being aggressive to visitors.

Costumes:

It is important that when helping a child pick out a costume, safety should be the main concern.
• Wear a light-colored or bright costume, with reflective tape or arm bands to heighten visibility.• Wear a costume that is properly fitted to reduce the chance of tripping on it.
• Select a costume that is constructed from flame-retardant materials.• Make sure your vision is not restricted. Consider completing your costume with make-up rather than masks. Masks may require that the eye-holes be cut larger for the sake of good peripheral vision.
• Shoes should fit properly even if they do not go well with a costume.• If a child's costume requires the use of props, such as a flexible-plastic sword, make sure the sharp tip is cut or filed round.
• Glow sticks are also an excellent method to increase a child's visibility. You might want to consider creating a fun necklace with string to ensure they will want to wear as part of their costumes.• Accessorize with a flashlight!
Before the kids hit the streets, it is important that parents be aware of the route that their children plan to follow. If you are unable to take them out yourself, consider asking another parent, an older sibling or babysitter to accompany the children as they go trick-or-treating. Ensuring your child is wearing a watch also allows you to establish an agreed upon curfew.

Some Rules for Trick~or~Treaters:

• Bring a flashlight and always carry a cellphone• Walk instead of running
• Stay on the sidewalks (If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left-hand side of the street facing traffic)• Look both ways before crossing the street
• Cross at corners and avoid running across the street• Do not cut across lawns or take short-cuts
• Take masks off when walking from one house to the next• Only visit houses that are lit
• Do not go inside houses and do not get into vehicles• Never accept rides from strangers
• Stay away from animals you are not familiar with• Vandalism is not just a 'trick' - it is against the law and has consequences

By keeping Halloween a fun, safe and happy holiday for you and your kids, you'll look forward to many happy years of Halloween fun. The Cornelius Police Department hopes everyone celebrating Halloween has a fun and safe time!