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MV PD Safety TipsĀ 

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is a fun holiday for the kids throughout Moreno Valley. However, for the parents it can be tricky when insuring the safety of their children.

Here are some safety tips you can use to help keep your family safe.

For the children trick-or-treating...

  1. Costumes:
    • Costumes should be flame retardant and fit properly.
    • Costumes should be made out of light colors or reflective
      strips across the front and back.
    • Accessories such as fake guns, knives or swords should
      be obviously fake.
  2.  Candy
    • Never eat until the children get home and the candy is inspected.
    • Never eat candy if the package is partially open or tampered with.
  3. General Safety Tips
    • Be alert to surroundings and report any suspicious activity to Police.
    • Walk on side walks and drive ways whenever possible. Avoid back alleys
       and short cuts.
    • Cross the street at corners with crosswalks.
    • Always travel in groups that are properly supervised by an adult.
    • Take frequent breaks to prevent fatigue.
    • Never enter a stranger's house or vehicle without parent's permission.
    • Only accept candy in the doorway of a residence.

For the adults staying home to give out candy...

  • Welcome trick or treaters with porch or any other exterior lights on.
  • Patrol your street from time to time to discourage speeding motorist, acts of Vandalism or any crimes against children. Report any suspicious activity to the police:
    NON-Emergency - 776-1099
    Emergency - 911

For those with pets

NO SCAREDY CATS THIS HALLOWEEN:
TOP 10 SAFETY TIPS FOR PET PARENTS

(Courtesy of the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

Attention, companion animal caretakers! The ASPCA would like to call your attention to these common-sense cautions that’ll help keep your pets safe and stress-free this time of year.

  1. Please don't leave your pet out in the yard on Halloween. There are plenty of stories of vicious pranksters who have teased, injured, stolen, and even killed pets on this night.
  2. Keep your outdoor cats inside several days before and several days after Halloween. (P.S. It’s also our duty to remind you here that kitties are healthiest and happiest when they live inside ALL year round!)
  3. No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Sammy. Chocolate in all forms can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed. If you suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
  4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise extreme caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.
  5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume can cause undue stress.
  6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe or bark. Keep a look out for small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces on the costume that your pet could choke on.
  7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not obstruct her vision in any way. Even the sweetest animals can get snappy when they can't see.
  8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.
  9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.
  10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and become lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip increase the chances that he or she will be returned to you.