October 18, 2012: The City of Delray Beach wants everyone to have a safe and fun Halloween. It is one of the most exciting times of the year for children, but sometimes the most hectic for parents. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) encourages parents to review the following tips to enjoy a safe and fun Halloween:
1. Instruct your older children to TAKE FRIENDS when "Trick or Treating."
2. Make sure a TRUSTED ADULT, an older child or you accompany your younger children when "Trick or Treating." A trusted adult is a person parents/guardians have come to rely on and with whom they and their children feel comfortable. Discuss with your child who will accompany them and make sure you are both comfortable with the choice.
3. Accompany, or make sure a trusted adult accompanies, your younger children to the door of every home that they approach. Become familiar with each home your child visits and the people who are providing Halloween treats to your children.
4. Teach your children to only enter homes with your prior permission and only approach homes that are well-lit, both inside and outside.
5. Teach your children to NEVER approach a vehicle unless they are accompanied by you, even if it appears no one is inside the vehicle.
6. Make sure your children wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight or glow stick when traveling during the evening hours.
7. Make sure your children are able to see and breathe properly and easily when using facial masks. All costumes and masks should be clearly marked as flame resistant.
8. Teach your children to always stay in well-lit areas, never take shortcuts, and never go into isolated areas.
9. Teach your children to stay alert for any suspicious incidents and report anything unusual to you and/or law enforcement.
10. Teach your children, that if anyone tries to grab them to draw attention to themselves and loudly yell "This person is trying to take me," or "This person is not my father/mother." Instruct your children to make every effort to escape by walking, running or pulling away; yelling; kicking; attracting attention; and/or otherwise resisting.
11. Consider organizing or attending parties at home, in schools or in community centers as a good alternative to "Trick or Treating."
For more information, contact Sgt. Nicole Guerriero, Delray Beach Police Department Community Relations Officer, at (561) 243-7841 or E-mail Guerriero@mydelraybeach.com.
About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1984 and serves as the nation's resource on the issues of missing and sexually exploited children. The organization provides information and resources to law enforcement, parents, children (including child victims) as well as other professionals and operates the toll-free 24 hour national missing children's hotline 1-800-THE-LOST. For more information, visit www.missingkids.com.
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