LCPD remind kids, parents to play it safe this Halloween

Halloween is just a few days away. The Las Cruces police and fire departments remind parents, and trick-or-treaters of all ages, to take the necessary steps that will make Halloween safe for everyone involved.

Possibly the most important safety precaution – especially for parents of young children – is to make sure their trick-or-theaters are adequately chaperoned by a parent or responsible adult.

And residents who invite trick-or-treaters onto their property should ensure that sidewalks and walkways are adequately lighted and safe for their guests. National statistics show that more than 10,000 fires are reported each year during the three-day period around Halloween. Those fires cause an average of 25 deaths each year, 125 injuries and more than $80 million in property damage.

Some additional safety tips include:

Go trick’-or-treating with your child and, if possible, in a group.
Make sure that costumes are visible to motorists and homeowners.
Use a flashlight while trick’-or-treating after dark and attach glow sticks (available for free at any Las Cruces Fire Department) to costumes.

Assure that costumes fit appropriately and do not interfere with walking or vision.
Make sure costumes or decorations do not come in contact with open flames, such as candles in jack-o’-lanterns.

Consider using flameless, battery-operated candles or glow sticks in jack-o’-lanterns.
Trick-or-treaters should keep to sidewalks and proper walkways.
When crossing streets, do so only in designated crosswalks and only after checking for traffic.

Motorists should be on the lookout for more pedestrians, especially small children and primarily on residential streets.

Thoroughly inspect all candy and moderate the amount your child may consume.
Call police immediately to report any inappropriate behavior, potentially dangerous situations or suspicious activity.

Trick-or-treaters also should be conscious to the fact that not all homeowners celebrate Halloween, or enjoy ghosts and goblins knocking on their doors.

The basic rules of thumb are to refrain from trick’-or-treating at homes with no Halloween displays or without adequate lighting, and keep your activities limited to respectable hours.