VIRGINIA BEACH — At dusk on Halloween it may be hard to recognize the monsters, superheroes and princesses asking for candy at the front door. That’s why Virginia Beach and Norfolk first responders created lists of safety tips for the spooky holiday.
It starts at the front door, according to a release issued by the Virginia Beach police, fire and emergency medical services departments.
If you’re passing out fun-size Twix and Twizzlers, leave your porch light on, to alert trick-or-treaters that you are, in fact, in on the fun. If you’re not participating, turn your porch light off.
The Norfolk Police Department also recommends that parents take a picture of their children dressed up in their Halloween costumes for identification — and as a keepsake for years to come.
Here are other tips released by the Virginia Beach and Norfolk police departments for safe trick-or-treating:
- Deck your child out in light-colored, flame-resistant costumes. For better visibility in the dark, add reflectors or reflective tape.
- If your child is wearing a mask, make sure they can see through it or use face paint instead. Remember: It’s illegal for people over the age of 16 to wear a mask in public with the intent to conceal their identity. Although you likely won’t be arrested if you wear a mask when you trick-or-treat with your child, you can avoid having to answer any unnecessary questions by leaving your mask at home.
- Accompany children under the age of eight when they trick-or-treat. If you can’t go with them, have them go with a group of other children.
- Give your older children a curfew and a cellphone if they’re going trick-or-treating without you.
- Tell someone where you’ll be trick-or-treating and when you think you’ll be home. Stay in your neighborhood and only trick-or-treat at homes you’re familiar with.
- Walk on the sidewalk when possible. If there aren’t sidewalks in your neighborhood, walk in the direction of traffic.
- Feed your child dinner before they go trick-or-treating. Inspect your children’s candy before they eat it. Only allow them to eat packaged candy.
- Keep your pet away from the front door so they don’t scare or injure trick-or-treaters.
- Keep your candlelit jack-o-lanterns out of the natural path where trick-or-treaters will be walking.
- Tell your children not to go into the homes or cars of strangers.
- Don’t allow your children to carry toy weapons or guns.
In both cities, trick-or-treating begins at dusk and ends at 8 p.m. for children 12 and under.
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