ISP Offer Halloween Safety Tips

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health has also provided helpful tips to keep cats and dogs safe this Halloween.

Shutterstock photo.

INDIANAPOLIS – Halloween is right around the corner and Indiana State Police are reminding Hoosiers of helpful tips to have a safe and enjoyable Halloween.

ISP offers tips on costumes, trick or treating, and treats.

Costume Tips

• Keep costumes short to prevent trips and falls.
• Try make-up instead of a mask. Masks often obstruct a child's vision, which makes tasks like crossing the street and going up and down stairs dangerous.
• Make sure children wear light colors or put reflective tape on their costumes.

Trick or Treating

• Make sure older children trick-or-treat with friends. Together, map out a safe route so parents know where they will be.
• Instruct children to stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.
• Encourage children to trick-or-treat while it's still light out. If children are out after dark, make sure they have flashlights and travel on well lighted streets.
• Remind children not to enter the homes or cars of strangers.
• Follow your communities trick-or-treating hours.

Treats

• Remind children not to eat any of their treats until they get home.
• Check out all treats at home in a well-lighted place.
• Only eat unopened candies and other treats that are in original wrappers. Remember to inspect fruits for anything suspicious.

Additionally, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health encourages pet owners to follow a few steps to ensure dogs and cats stay safe this Halloween:

• Keep candy away from pets, especially anything containing chocolate or the sweetener xylitol.
• Identify pets with a microchip or tag in case your pet escapes or is lost during Halloween events.
• Keep lit candles and jack-o-lanterns away from pets.
• Keep electric or battery-operated decorations out of reach. Batteries are a hazard if swallowed.
• Familiarize pets with costumes before Halloween. If you plan to put a costume on your pet make sure they are comfortable with wearing one and it fits properly.
• Keep glow sticks and glow jewelry away from pets. While the liquid inside is non-toxic, it tastes bad.
• If your pet is wary of strangers or has a tendency to bite, keep them away from trick-or-treaters. Confining the pet to a familiar room or crate with a comfort toy or blanket is a better distraction.
• Keep your pets inside during trick-or-treating. Pets are very visual and unfamiliar sights and sounds can be upsetting or trigger a fight or flight instinct.

See a list of area Halloween events and trick or treat times at Local Halloween Events and Trick-or-Treat Times - Eagle Country 99.3 (eaglecountryonline.com).