It’s Halloween, here’s how to stay safe

SALT LAKE CITY — Halloween is here and officials have put out Halloween safety tips.

Trick-or-treating

The Salt Lake City Police Department has an online flyer recommending safety tips for anyone celebrating Halloween this year.

The SLCPD’s flyer recommended putting kids’ names and addresses in their costumes in case they get lost.

The SLCPD also asked parents to inspect their kids’ treats before letting them eat them and to remind their kids not to enter strangers’ houses or cars.

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services recommended tips from SafeKids.org, a nonprofit whose goal is to prevent injury to kids.  The nonprofit recommended that kids under 12 years old have an adult accompany them. 

Both the SLCPD and the nonprofit recommended that costumes be bright, or have reflective tape on them in order to make kids as visible as possible. Parents can also use glow sticks and stickers

Both groups said parents should use face paint instead of masks when possible. And if kids are wearing masks, eye holes should be cut large enough for kids to be able to see out of.

Halloween safety on the roads

The SLCPD advised parents to plan out trick-or-treat routes, especially routes that have sidewalks. And, if there are no sidewalks, police said to walk facing traffic.

Drivers should be prepared early in the day to keep an eye out for kids, SafeKids.org said. According to the non-profit, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. is the most popular time for trick-or-treaters. Drivers should turn their lights on early to ensure they can spot any kids on the road.

The nonprofit also recommended that drivers go slowly, and keep an eye out for kids in the area.

In a Facebook post, the Utah Highway Patrol asked drivers to find a safe way home with a sober driver. The UHP advised that it would have extra amounts of troopers out this weekend.

Related: Trick or trash: Candy makers grapple with plastic waste

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