Consumer Watch: Staying safe on Halloween

photo Ellen Phillips

A number of readers have asked for a repeat of previous Halloween columns about child safety. These revised strategies from the original 2008 column help keep kids safe on the scariest night of the year. Cathy Lewandowski, AT&T's marketing director, provided some tips.

First, this is a great time to give your young witches and goblins a cell phone, regardless if they normally use one or not. Activate old phones with a prepaid calling card and fully charge them before Count Dracula, Witchipoo, or your smallest Power Ranger start out their evening. Program emergency numbers as a speed dial; the numbers also can be programmed as I-C-E (in case of emergency), which is a good idea for Little Bit's or your own phone at any time. Get in on the fun and accompany trick-or-treaters younger than age 12. Pin a piece of paper with your child's name, address and phone number inside the child's pocket in case you get separated. Do not attach it to the outside of clothing, especially with a younger child.

Set ground rules. If your child will be trick-or-treating without you, establish a route and set a curfew. Review safety rules, including staying with the group, walking only on the sidewalk, approaching only clearly lit homes and never going inside a house. Encourage older kids to trick-or-treat with a group of friends, parents or older siblings. Maintain contact information with chaperones and trade phone numbers with all parents who're with you and those who are with your kids. Make sure someone in the group carries a flashlight with fresh batteries. Encourage your older kids to stay close to home and tell them not to go door-to-door in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Know the route your kids will be taking if you aren't going with them; insist they check in with you every hour, either by phone or by stopping back at home. Make sure that they know not to deviate from the planned route so that you always know where they will be. Be sure to be within earshot of your own phone as it's also important to tell your children to call home immediately should they become separated from others in their group or feel uncomfortable within their surroundings. And while my generation never worried about this topic, these days it's critical to get on the internet and check your local state website for sex offenders. Almost every state has one, just do a search for your state sex offender site. Look up your zip code and it should have a list of registered offenders in your area that includes street addresses. Make sure that your kids stay away from these houses!

Be sure to show your children know how to cross a street properly. They should always look both ways before crossing and only cross at corners or crosswalks. Make sure that if you have more than one child, they know to take the hand of the younger child when they cross a street. But you're in the hot seat, too; after all, it's a must to drive responsibly. Take advantage of hands-free options while using your phone in the car, especially with so many youngsters out crossing the streets. Be a wireless Samaritan. Keep a lookout for anything suspicious or out of place and, if you note such, instantly call law enforcement authorities.

And, finally, whether you're Trick or Treatin' or not, have a safe and enjoyable Halloween.

Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@times freepress.com.

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