Halloween Safety 101

 Trick or Treat!

Everyone is looking forward to that magical night where you can pretend to be someone, or something, you are not and walk around the neighborhood with your friends and family collecting candy.  Or, maybe you enjoy Halloween at a friends house handing out candy on the front porch while sharing a pizza and catching up.  No matter how you celebrate Halloween, Griffin Insurance wants to make sure you have the best time and that you are safe.  To that end we have decided to throw out a few safety tips to help you celebrate Halloween in the best possible way. 

If you plan to drive anywhere during trick or treat hours:

1. Please slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may dart out from in between parked vehicles, or run out into the road unexpectedly.
2. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs
3. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
4. Get rid of any distractions - like your phone - in your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
5. Turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
6. Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Be especially alert for kids during those hours.

Be careful when you are out walking: 

1. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross. Cross in groups when possible.
2. Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
3. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
4. Always walk on sidewalks or paths when they are available.
5. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
6. Pay attention to Police or Officials that may be directing traffic at intersections.

Things to consider for your costume:

1. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
2. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
3. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers. 
4. When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Trick or Treat Hours around the area:

• Ambridge - Thursday, October 31, 6:00-8:00 PM (Trick or Treat)
  Beaver - Thursday, October 31, 6:00-8:00 PM (Trick or Treat)
  Brighton - Thursday, October 31, 6:00-8:00 PM (Trick or Treat)
  Chippewa Township - Thursday, October 31, 6:00-8:00 PM (Trick or Treat)
  Conway Borough - Thursday, October 31, 6:00-8:00 PM (Trick or Treat)

• Buffalo Township - Thursday, October 31, 6:00-8:00 PM (Trick or Treat)
  Butler Township - Thursday, October 31, 6:00-7:00 PM (Trick or Treat)
  Cranberry - Thursday, October 31, 6:00-8:00 PM (Trick or Treat)
  Seven Fields - Thursday, October 31, 6:00-8:00 PM (Trick or Treat)
  Summit Township - Thursday, October 31, 6:00-8:00 PM (Trick or Treat)
  Zelienople - Wednesday, October 30, 6:30-7:30 PM (Halloween Parade), Thursday, October 31, 6:00-8:00 PM (Trick or Treat)

• Mahoning Township - Thursday, October 31, 6:00-9:00 PM (Trick or Treat)
  New Castle - Thursday, October 31 5:00-7:00 PM (Trick or Treat)
  Wampum - Thursday, October 31, 6:00-8:00 PM (Trick or Treat)

• Sandy Lake - Thursday, October 31, 4:00-6:00 PM (Trick or Treat)

Have Fun!!