7 SMART HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS - CHILD RESCUE COALITION

 

7 SMART HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

When the seasons change and the pumpkins appear, it can only mean one thing, Halloween. It’s kids’ favorite night of the year! Costumes and masks, candy and more candy, and late nights trick-or-treating. But that also means more people lurking in the streets and online looking to see where children may be.

So before the sun goes down on October 31st, make sure to read these Seven Halloween Safety Tips, and plan ahead for a safe and fun-filled evening.

7 SMART HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

1. Use Apps for Safety: Apps such as Red Panic Button and AT&T’s FamilyMap provide ways to quickly locate your child in case of an emergency. Also Life 360 may be the most popular app to track children, and allows you on nights like Halloween to invite a circle of friends to track as well.
2. GPS Tracking Device – If your kids don’t have phones, Safewise has a great list of GPS tracking devices that can be used for your kids. These will give older kids and tweens more independence but give parents more security of their well-being.
3. Use a Sex Offender Search App: Family Watchdog is a free website service to help locate registered sex offenders in your area. Or you can activate your smartphone’s GPS and connect to the National Sex Offender Registry to locate registered sex offenders and predators in the area. You can search by name, address, and zip code, and results will be displayed on an interactive map. The app is free and easy to share with fellow parents to ensure your child’s trick-or-treat route is safe.
4. Establish Boundaries: Mobile navigation tools can assist parents and kids in creating routes to follow and others to avoid. You can also use the Next Door app to create a neighborhood watch. Also, remind your child to only trick-or-treat at well-lit houses, and to remain on the porch within street view at all times.
5. Create Lines of Communication: Save ICE (In Case of Emergency) numbers in your child’s speed dial. Include your number, a neighbor’s and/or a grandparent’s. Also, be sure your child knows how to dial 911 and can provide important information such as street, location, and landmarks.
6. Use Reflective Materials: Have your child wear or carry something that glows in the dark. You might choose a glowing necklace, a glow-in-the-dark treat bag, or a flashlight. You can even put reflective tape on a costume.
7. Don’t Go Anywhere with Strangers – Teach your children never to enter a stranger’s home or car, even if they have a cool haunted house they want to show you. Stay outside unless a responsible adult is with you.

Halloween is a night that celebrates all that’s scary but we don’t want to frighten our kids away from having fun. By implementing some smart safety strategies and providing awareness, all kids and parents can have a safe and fun Halloween!

For more information on Child Rescue Coalition and how to keep kids safe online, visit www.childrescuecoalition.org. And read more posts like this on our education page!

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