October 15, 2009

The City of Arlington encourages everyone to play it safe this Halloween. Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31, and the Arlington Police Department offers the following safety tips:

• Consider attending a carnival or haunted house as an alternative to trick-or-treating.
• If trick-or-treating, travel in groups and carry flashlights.
• Children should always be accompanied by an adult.
• Face the traffic when walking on city streets.
• Carefully plan trick-or-treat routes to avoid repeatedly crossing the street.
• Stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.
• Never allow a child to enter a car or residence.
• Check all treats in a well-lit area before allowing children to eat them. Immediately discard suspicious candy or items.
• Select bright costumes or decorate with reflective tape for increased night visibility.
• Purchase costumes, masks, beards and wigs labeled "flame resistant."
• To prevent trips and falls, keep costumes short and avoid ill-fitting shoes.
• Try make-up instead of a mask. If a mask is worn, make certain the eye holes are large enough for full vision.

Motorists are encouraged to avoid driving on Halloween, when possible. If you must go out, keep the following recommendations in mind:

• Use headlights before nightfall to increase your vehicle’s visibility.
• Do not exceed 10 or 15 miles per hour if driving through residential areas.

Halloween can also be a traumatic and dangerous time for pets. The Arlington Animal Services Division and ASPCA offer the following safety tips:

• Do not leave your pets in the yard on Halloween.
• Consider keeping your dog in a separate room during trick-or-treat visiting hours, if your dog is not a very social animal. Too many strangers in unusual garb could frighten a dog.
• Trick-or-treat candies are not for pets. Chocolate can be poisonous for a lot of animals.
• Be careful of pets around a lit pumpkin. Pets may knock it over and cause a fire.
• If dressing your pet for Halloween, be sure not to obstruct the vision.
• Be sure your dog or cat is unable to exit the home when a door is opened for trick-or-treaters.

For more information about Halloween safety for pets, go to www.aspca.org or call the City of Arlington Animal Services Center at 817-451-3436.