Tips on staying safe Halloween night

Halloween is around the corner and kids across Montreal are getting set to walk their neighbourhood streets in search of sweet treats.

For many kids, the annual ritual offers a rare opportunity to discover their neighbourhood at night.

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To ensure the evening goes off without a hitch, the Missing Children’s Network issued a list of safety tips.

Before Halloween night the network suggests parents do the following:

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• Make sure your kids are visible, choose bright costumes and have them carry flashlights or glowsticks
• Plan a route on familiar and well-lit streets
• Identify safe places along the route your kids can go to seek help
• Make sure kids know your cellphone number and address, in case you get separated
• Consider letting older kids bring cellphones so they can get in touch easily
• Teach your children to say no in a loud voice if someone tries to grab them or steer them away

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Other dos and don’ts for Halloween night include the following:

• Remind older kids who are trick-or-treating with friends to stay together and to respect curfew
• Only visit homes that are well-lit and decorated
• Wait on the porch outside, don’t go inside the home
• Tell your children not to approach any vehicle or accept a ride unless they have your permission to do so

READ MORE: Northern Quebec police warn of cannabis-laced candies

Also, parents are being reminded to go through their children’s Halloween haul and carefully inspect all the treats. Unwrapped treats should be discarded immediately.