Chief William Kingsbury and the Medway Police Department would like to share guidance and safety tips as Halloween approaches to help residents and trick-or-treaters celebrate safely this season.

Halloween, which is celebrated yearly on Oct. 31, falls on a Monday this year. The recommended trick-or-treating hours for Medway will be from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

The Medway Police Department encourages families to make the most of Halloween with their children but asks that parents and guardians remain mindful of their child’s safety when choosing costumes, and trick-or-treating.

Costume Safety

Picking a great costume is an exciting part of Halloween preparation, and Chief Kingsbury encourages parents/guardians to consider these tips while choosing a costume:

 All costumes, wigs, and accessories should be fire-resistant.

Any props should be soft, and no part of the costume should impair vision
or movement.

Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.

Wear sturdy shoes and temperature-appropriate clothing under costumes.

If children will be allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, or give them a flashlight or glow sticks to ensure they are visible to drivers.

When buying Halloween makeup, make sure it is nontoxic and always test it on a small area of skin first.

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

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 neighborhood rounds.