The sweetest treat: A safe Halloween

From health to traffic and stranger danger, officials all over the state have announced plans and tips regarding safety on Halloween.
The Florida Department of Health called Halloween “one of the most dangerous days of the year for child pedestrians” in a news release this week.
“Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than at any other time. As the days get shorter, children are more likely to be trick-or-treating in the dark when it is harder for drivers to see them. The excitement of the holiday can also make everyone less cautious with other potential hazards,” said the DOH release.
DOH offered these safety tips:
• Children should carry flashlights or glow sticks and wear reflective tape.
• Children under age 10 should not trick-or-treat without adult supervision. Kids mature enough to go trick-or-treating without supervision should stick to a predetermined route with good lighting.
• Choose safe costumes and makeup. Look for non-flammable.
• Avoid wearing masks that inhibit one’s ability to see or hear. Halloween makeup should be non-toxic and pre-tested to a small area of the skin before applying. If using cosmetic contact lenses, make sure they are prescribed and fitted by an eye care professional. Wearing ill-fitted or improperly sanitized contacts, even for a few hours, can cause an eye infection, cornea ulcer, or even blindness.
• Be a safe pedestrian: Walk — don’t run — on well-lit sidewalks or paths, and face traffic as far to the left as possible. Direct routes with the fewest street crossings are best, but if you need to cross, use traffic signals and crosswalks. Also watch for cars that are turning or backing up, and never dart into the street or cross between parked cars. Never assume that because you can see the driver, the driver can see you. Look both ways before crossing a street.
• Teach children their home phone number and how to call 9-1-1 if they have an emergency or become lost.
• Consider fire safety and tripping obstacles when decorating. Also screen candies before children are allowed to eat them.
As DOH urges adults to remind their children to be safe on the streets, the Florida Highway Patrol reminds adults to be safe drivers:
• Stay alert. Neighborhoods that do not normally have a lot of pedestrian and bicycle traffic may experience an increase on Halloween night.
• Remember that children will be excited and may be trying to visit as many houses as possible within a specific time frame.
• Trick-or-treaters may suddenly dart into traffic from between parked cars. Be particularly cautious in areas where cars are parked along the side of the street.
• Be patient and slow down. Give children lots of time to cross the street. Their costumes may impair their ability to see and hear you, and to get out of your way quickly.
• Remember that children will be excited and may forget to “stop, look and listen” before they cross the street.
While parents, children, and motorists do their part to stay safe, the Florida Department of Corrections said it’s taking action to ensure Halloween safety, as well.
FDOC announced this week that probation officers will increase sex offender supervision for Halloween.
“Florida Department of Corrections probation officers will be out in force on Halloween, making sure sex offenders are not participating in any Halloween activities involving children,” said a FDOC news release.
Between 4:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Halloween, probation officers will increase monitoring of these offenders through methods including surprise home visits, multiple residence drive bys and increased surveillance at treatment facilities and motels that cater to sex offenders, said the release.
According to FDOC, probation officers will instruct sex offenders currently on supervision who are restricted from having unsupervised contact with minors to comply with the following restrictions on Halloween:
• Do not give out candy or other treats.
• Turn off porch lights, close blinds.
• No outside decorations to attract children.
• Do not answer the door to trick or treaters.
• Do not dress in costume or masks.
• Do not attend Halloween parties where children will be present.
“These restrictions apply to any residence where a sex offender is located, and these restrictions apply to all members of that household, including family members or roommates of sex offenders,” said the FDOC release.
There are currently more than 9,000 sex offenders on state supervision in Florida, according to FDOC.