Santa Barbara Police offer Halloween safety tips

Halloween is right around the corner, and local police are boosting patrols and reminding residents to practice safe habits for the upcoming holiday.

The Santa Barbara Police Department will be stepping up patrols for Halloween weekend. Residents and trick-or-treaters should expect a heightened police presence, especially when it comes to monitoring drunk driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, on Halloween night between 2009 and 2013, 119 people were killed by drunk driving, and 43% of all motor vehicle deaths involved drunk driving.

Sergeant Riley Harwood of the Santa Barbara Police Department offers the following checklist to have a safe Halloween:

Tips for Kids:

-Trick-or-treat with a group of friends

-Hold a flashlight or glow sticks while trick-or-treating

-Walk on the sidewalk and walkways; do not cut across yards

-Use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing the street

-Be careful crossing driveways

-Do not look at electronic devices while walking in the street

-Only accept treats at the front door; do not enter homes

-Be cautious of strangers and animals

-Be caution around jack-o-lanterns, candles, or other sources of fire

-Only eat treats after they have been inspected by an adult

-Teens, do not share plans on social media and do not meet anyone who approaches you online.

Tips for Parents:

-Accompany young children

-Have older children carry a cell phone for quick communication

-Plan a trick-or-treat route

-Apply reflective material to your child’s costume

-Ensure that costumes and shoes fit to avoid trips and falls

-Inspect all candy before it is eaten; be cautious of homemade treats

-Make sure teens do not have access to alcohol, eggs, fireworks, and other instruments of mischief

Tips for Owners:

-Exercise your pet during the day so they are tired during the evening

-Keep pets indoors in an area away from the front door

-Use the TV or radio to mask the sounds of people at the front door

-Cover the doorbell so visitors won’t use it, wait for visitors at the door so they don’t knock

-Give your pet a safe chew toy or treats

-Consider giving them a calming remedy

-Keep candy and glow sticks out of reach

-Make sure pet costumes do not restrict breathing, present choking hazards, or annoy your animal