Halloween is only a week away, so now is the time to plan for a safe and happy celebration. The select board recently established official trick-or-treating hours between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Hull-O-Ween – Thursday, October 31.

“We hope that everyone has a safe and happy Halloween,” said Hull Police Chief John Dunn. “To accomplish this, it’s imperative that families and children adhere to safety guidelines. From wearing appropriate attire to checking your children’s candy to driving safely, everyone plays a role on this holiday.”

Costume safety

Below are some tips from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help you and your loved ones enjoy a safe and happy Halloween.

• All costumes, wigs, and accessories should be fire-resistant. If you make your costume, use flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon.

• If children are allowed out after dark, they should fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags or be given flashlights or glow sticks.

• When buying Halloween makeup, ensure it is non-toxic and always test it 24-48 hours in advance in a small area. If a rash, redness, swelling, or other signs of irritation develop, that’s a sign of a possible allergy.

• Remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation.

• Don’t decorate your face with things not intended for your skin.

• Don’t wear decorative or colored contact lenses that appear to change how your eyes look due to the risk of eye injury, unless you have seen an eyecare professional for a proper fitting and have been given instructions on how to use the lenses.

Trick-or-Treating safety

According to the National Safety Council, children are more than twice as likely to be struck by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. To help prevent such a tragedy, parents and trick-or-treaters are urged to consider these tips before heading out:

• A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds.

• If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you.

• Agree on a specific time children should return home.

• Teach your children never to enter a stranger’s home or car.

• Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends.

• Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home.

• Children and adults are reminded to put electronic devices down, keep their heads up and walk, not run, across the street.

Driving safety

The following tips, courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, can help keep the roads safe:

• On Halloween, there will likely be more pedestrians on the roads and in places where they are not expected. Slower speeds save lives. Continue to scan the road in areas where they are likely to be or where sight distances are limited.

• Be alert for pedestrians who may emerge from between parked cars or behind shrubbery. Stop and wait for them to pass.

• Don’t drive distracted. Keep your eyes on the road, your mind on driving, and your hands on the wheel.

• Don’t drive impaired. Designate a sober driver or use a taxi or ride-share service. Contact law enforcement if you see a potentially impaired driver on the road.

• Remember that social host liability laws may hold you responsible for parties where underage people drink, regardless of who furnishes the alcohol. You could be held legally accountable for your guests’ behavior after they leave.

• Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween.

The Hull Police Department wishes the community a safe and happy Hull-O-Ween!

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