10 Halloween Tips ‹ OnStar Connections

October 30, 2009

10 Halloween Tips

Keep the night safe and fun

By OnStar

halloween_276x224

Most kids — and parents — love Halloween. Picking out and carving the pumpkin, deciding what costume to wear, going trick-or-treating in the neighborhood — all make happy memories for young and old alike. To help make sure all the trick-or-treaters in your family have a safe and fun Halloween, here are some tips from our partner the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children^® (NCMEC):

• Choose bright, flame-retardant costumes or add reflective tape to costumes and candy bags so children are easily seen in the dark. In addition, carry a glow stick or flashlight.
• Plan a trick-or-treating route in familiar neighborhoods with well-lit streets. Avoid unfamiliar neighborhoods, streets that are isolated, or homes that are poorly lit inside or outside.
• Never send young children out alone. They should always be accompanied by a parent or another trusted adult. Older children should always travel in groups.
• Always walk younger children to the door to receive treats and don’t let children enter a home unless you are with them.
• Be sure children do not approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless you are with them.
• Discuss with children the basic pedestrian safety rules they should use when walking through the neighborhood.
• Consider organizing a home or community party as an alternative to trick-or-treating.
• Make sure children know their home phone number and address in case you get separated. Teach children how to call 911 in an emergency.
• Teach children to say “NO!” or “This is not my mother/father!” in a loud voice if someone tries to get them to go somewhere, accept anything other than a treat, or leave with them. And teach them that they should make every effort to get away by kicking, screaming and resisting.
• Remind children to remain alert and report suspicious incidents to parents and/or law enforcement.

Because OnStar makes child safety a priority, we’ve partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to help keep kids safer. OnStar subscribers can act as Good Samaritans by pushing the red OnStar emergency button anytime to report information regarding an AMBER Alert or a lost child.

ncmeclogo