TAMPA, Fla. — You've got the pumpkins carved, the candy bowl filled and the costumes ready for the camera. It's time for Halloween!
As children roam the neighborhoods to load up on candy, many parents are trying to make sure their kids are safe from cars, felons, tainted candy and other dangers. Some are even asking their local law enforcement what time trick-or-treating officially starts and ends tonight.
With that in mind, here are some basic essential tips for residents gearing up for another Halloween night in the Tampa Bay area:
Trick-or-treat times
A lot of factors can influence the exact time that kids head out on Halloween night, including weather, day of the week, what time parents are home from work, etc.
While there are no official starting or ending times for trick-or-treaters, there is some consistency to the stretch of time you can expect to see them.
According to Good Housekeeping, most trick-or-treaters tend to start at 5:30 or 6 p.m. and are back at home by around 9 p.m. In many cases, kids will want to head out at or around sundown, when it's just started to get dark.
The sunset time in this part of Florida is set to be 6:47 p.m., a time well after rush hour traffic has died down and families have had enough time to set up their candy stations or haunted house displays.
Weather
Weather forecasts have shown a warm, breezy Halloween night with clear skies and temperatures in the mid-70s.
Neighborhood safety tips
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, these are the most important ways to help ensure a safe Halloween:
- Be safe, be seen! Carry a flashlight, wear bright clothing, and put reflective tape on costumes and goody bags.
- Use sidewalks or crosswalks whenever possible. If sidewalks are unavailable, walk facing traffic as close to the curb as possible.
- Remind children to never run out into the street or cross between parked cars.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t wear headphones or text while walking.
- Children should not trick-or-treat unsupervised. Walk with your trick-or-treaters and hold the hands of young children. Review pedestrian safety with teens if they trick-or-treat without supervision.
Other law enforcement agencies remind parents that they can use the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's website to check for any registered sex offenders in their area so they know where to advise their kids to stay away from.
Food safety tips
While instances of tainted or dangerous treats are extremely rare, parents will want to ensure that everything their kids are eating is safe. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends the following:
- Don't eat any candy before it has been inspected at home.
- Have a snack before heading out to curb the urge to nibble on a treat before it has been inspected.
- Those with allergies should be sure to check the label for any allergens listed. Kids should be told not to accept or consume anything that isn't commercially wrapped.
- Those with very young children should remove any choking hazards, such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys, from the Halloween bags.
- Check commercially wrapped treats for any signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Any items that look suspicious should be discarded.