Next week, children across the Township will don their scariest, silliest, funniest and favorite costumes for a day of trick-or-treating and other Halloween festivities.
With the goal of ensuring the safest, healthiest and most enjoyable holiday for all, I want to share the following guidelines and best practices for parents, children and neighbors on Oct. 31.
As in previous years, Cherry Hill Township and the Cherry Hill Police Department recommend that children trick-or-treat between the hours of 3 and 7 p.m. on Halloween, and we recommend a 7 p.m. curfew for children under 18 who are not accompanied by an adult.
Whenever possible, parents should accompany children under 18 years of age. Regardless of their age, children should never trick-or-treat alone; it is always safest to travel in groups, and walk in familiar neighborhoods only. It’s a good idea to carry a flashlight for use in particularly dark areas, and children should be reminded to walk, not run, from house to house, to avoid trips, falls and potentially serious injuries.
And while Halloween is one of the sweetest holidays of the year (the National Confectioners Association estimates that 75 percent of households hand out candy on Halloween), it’s important that children only accept treats that are wrapped or packaged. Parents should be diligent, and inspect goodie bags before anything is eaten.
And remember: while everyone loves a treat, candy and other sweet and sugary foods should be eaten in moderation, and balanced with healthy and nutritious snacks as well!
As far as costumes are concerned, there are several factors of which parents should be aware:
• Be careful to avoid masks that might restrict your child’s vision. If your child is riding a bicycle, it’s best to avoid wearing a mask all together. You may be able to accomplish the same effect with special Halloween makeup or face paint. (However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that you always test make-up in a small area before it’s applied, and remove it before bedtime to prevent possible irritation to skin or eyes.
• Avoid the use of hard plastic or wooden props such as daggers and swords. Instead, opt for foam rubber accessories that are softer and flexible.
• Light-colored clothing is ideal for traveling after dark; reflective tape can be added to darker costumes to ensure your child is visible to drivers.
• Finally, ensure that your child’s costume fits well — and, especially, that it is short enough to prevent trips, falls and other accidents.
Homeowners and drivers can do their parts, as well:
• Keep exterior lights on throughout the night, and remove outdoor objects that trick-or-treaters can trip over.
• Keep cars locked for your own protection, and if possible, move your car inside the garage for the night.
• Keep pets indoors.
• When driving through neighborhoods, particularly during peak trick-or-treating hours, motorists should stay alert, drive slowly on local streets and watch for children.
• Parents should encourage their children to be equally aware of their surroundings, to use crosswalks when possible, and to look both ways before crossing any street.
As always, the Cherry Hill Police Department will be patrolling local neighborhoods in marked and unmarked cars, as well fire and other emergency personnel and neighborhood groups. If you see suspicious activity, please report it to the Cherry Hill Police Department at (856) 665–1200.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer additional Halloween safety tips on their website at www.cdc.gov/family/halloween/, and the National Confectioners Association shares folklore, recipes, safety tips, and other helpful tidbits at www.candyusa.com/.
To all of Cherry Hill’s little ghosts and goblins: Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
