Keep your little ghouls and goblins safe this Halloween

Message from the City of Madison

Halloween is full of treats for children who look forward to donning costumes and going door to door each year. However, this holiday can also have some tricks - costumes can obstruct vision, and events that take place during the dark pose risks, to name a few.

"Halloween is a holiday children and many adults alike look forward to," said Madison's Mayor, Bob Courtney. "It's fun to see everyone in costume and going door to door trick-or-treating. Halloween also poses some potential dangers, so we want to offer some tips to keep everyone safe."

It's very frightening to realize that children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than any other day of the year. Low visibility at dusk and dark contributes to this risk. The National Safety Council (NSC) advises:

• Never allow children to go out alone. A responsible adult should always walk with trick or treaters.
• If you do allow older children to go out alone, review a route beforehand and agree on a time they will return home.
• Teach children never to enter a stranger's home or car.
• Tell children not to eat any treats until they return home, and you can check for any that could cause an allergic reaction.
• Adults and children should put their cell phones away and pay close attention while walking and crossing streets.
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Motorists should pay extra attention while driving on Halloween. The NSC urges motorists to follow these safety tips:

• Watch closely for children walking on roadways, medians, and curbs.
• Be very observant when entering and exiting driveways and alleys.
• Watch for children in dark clothing, especially at twilight and at night.
• Discourage new and inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween.

"We urge everyone to spend some time thinking about how to make the holiday safe," said Mayor Courtney. "By taking a few simple steps beforehand and staying alert during trick-or-treating, you can ensure a fun and safe time for all."

The City of Madison Halloween Festival is this Saturday, October 30th, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Bicentennial Park. Following the festival, families can enjoy trick-or-treating at the City of Madison Campground from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Traditional trick-or-treat is scheduled for Sunday, October 31st, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.