ITHACA, N.Y. — As residential trick-or-treating kicks off Monday night, Ithaca officials have released their annual list of safety suggestions for those partaking in holiday activities.
The Ithaca Police Department’s youngest Officer Colin Toland, 9, released a video of precautions people should keep in mind:
The video was featured on a Facebook page called Officer Colin: The Youngest Member of the Ithaca Police Department, which chronicles his adventures with local police agencies.
Colin was also on duty last week, when he helped hand out candy at Wegmens in Ithaca to kickoff the city’s seasonal festivities.
Related: Wegmans kicks off Ithaca Halloween festivities with candy and crafts
The Ithaca Fire Department released the following safety tips, as well:
- Choose a light-colored costume or add glow-in- the-dark tape to the front and back of the costume so
- your kids can be easily seen
- Make sure the costume is labeled "flame-retardant." This means the material won't burn
- Put a name tag — with your phone number — on your children’s costumes.
- Accompany young children (under age 10) on their rounds. But make sure they know their home
- phone number, the cell phone numbers of parents and any other trusted adult who's supervising, and
- how to call 911 in case they get lost
- For older kids who are trick-or- treating on their own, make sure you approve of the route they'll be
- taking and know when they’ll be coming home. Also be sure that they:
- Carry a cell phone, go in a group and stay together
- Only go to houses with porch lights on and walk on sidewalks on lit streets
- Never go into stranger’s homes or cars
- Give kids flashlights with new batteries
- Limit trick-or- treating to your neighborhood and the homes of people you and your children know
- When your kids get home, check all treats to make sure they’re safely sealed and there are no signs of tampering, such as small pinholes, loose or torn packages, and packages that appear to have been taped or glued back together.
- While children can help with designing a Pumpkin/Jack O’ Lantern, leave the carving to adults
- Use battery operated candles instead of open flames.
Have a fun and safe Halloween!