PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — Halloween is a time for witches and brews, goblins and ghouls, tricks and treats, and a month's worth of sweets. But, before you, your friends and your family start knocking on doors, Prince William County has a few tips to prevent any unnecessary horrors.
Concerns about children’s safety have become a big topic of conversation over the years during Halloween. Halloween is the deadliest night of the year for child pedestrians. With the days being shorter, it gets darker earlier, combined with dark costumes it gets hard to see small children moving through the shadows.
To combat this issue, Prince William County is recommending that kids and the adults accompanying them, wear light colors, carry a flashlight, or apply reflective tape on their costumes.
According to the FBI, 840,000 children go missing each year. Halloween tends to be one of the nights Amber Alerts and Missing Child Reports spike in numbers. Therefore, trick-or-treaters should travel in large groups. Kids who are younger should be accompanied by their parents or guardians.
Children should also be warned not to enter strange homes or accept rides from strangers.
It’s also very easy for kids to get distracted by all the sugary loot they just collected, but it’s important they don’t eat their treats until they get home. Prince William County recommends feeding the kids dinner or giving them a heavy snack before sending them out.
Lastly, the county recommends parents check all treats at home to make sure they haven’t been tampered with in any way.
Now that you’ve been prepped with these tips, you, your friends, and your family can have a spooky and safe Halloween. Happy Trick-or-Treating.