Halloween is fast approaching and with it, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office would like to offer some sensible safety tips to keep all of our little ghouls and ghosts safe.

The big issue this year is potentially “Edibles” or THC laced candy. There is really no way to tell the difference once the package has been opened, and rather than re-hash (see what we did there?) the issue, we would like to direct you to a Public Safety Announcement the Denver Police Department has made available:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wQdLzyN8AU

Basically, the best way to keep your little ones safe is to examine all of their loot..er..candy before they eat it. If it does not look like it should, looks like it’s been tampered with or is not in original packaging, toss it in the trash. Better safe than sorry.

Additionally, please be conscientious of the weather and lighting conditions when your costumed kiddos are out and about. While it may not snow EVERY Halloween as Colorado legend would tell us, the average temperature is typically in the low 40’s, so dress appropriately. Also, having a light or something reflective on is important, especially at night in parts of the county where it can get very dark. Along those same lines, please take some extra caution when driving around that evening and watch out for goblins crossing the road. 

Halloween is a unique night, in which we allow our children to routinely go up to the homes of strangers. The vast majority of the time, this goes off without a hitch, however, please remind your little zombies to be aware of strangers in the area and know what to do or where to go to get help if they need it.

Finally, Halloween is on a Friday night this year, which means that some of our older celebrants might be imbibing more than on a work night. Remember, if you are going to drink, don’t drive, and if you are going to drive, don’t drink. 

Let’s all work together to keep Halloween a fun and safe tradition for all!