Whether you’re trick-or-treating, driving or passing out treats, State Farm offers the following safety tips.
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If you’re going door-to-door:
- Always accompany young children.
- Exercise caution during the "scariest" hours between 5 and 9 p.m. and for pedestrian accidents between 6 and 7 p.m.
- Stick to neighborhoods with sidewalks. If you must walk on the street, keep to the far left, facing traffic.
- Practice safe crossing procedures: Use crosswalks, wait for corners, and look left, right and left again before crossing.
- Stick reflective tape onto costumes to make your child more visible and have them carry a flashlight.
- Make sure costumes and shoes are the correct size to prevent tripping, use face paint and leave masks at home as they can obstruct vision.
- If an older child ventures out without supervisions, ask them to go with a group, discuss the route, agree on a curfew, and give them a cell phone to stay in touch.
If you’re driving:
- Drive slowly.
- Be alert for children and eliminate in-car distractions.
- Practice extra caution at intersections and corners.
- Pull in and out of driveways carefully.
- Discuss driving pointers with teen drivers.
If you’re handing out treats:
- Keep your home brightly lit indoors and outside.
- Clear debris and other obstacles from you lawn, sidewalks and steps.
- Opt for battery-operated candles in jack-o-lanterns or other areas where costumed trick-or-treaters might stand.
- Keep pets kenneled or in another room.
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