BEDFORD – Chief John J. Bryfronski and the Bedford Police Department would like to offer area town residents some important safety tips as Halloween and trick-or-treating hits tonight.

Trick-or-treating hours for most areas (including Milford, Amherst and Wilton), are set for 6-8 p.m. on tonight.

“Halloween is a fun night for children and their families, and we want to ensure that everyone can safely enjoy the holiday this year,” Bryfronski said. “We hope that everyone will adhere to these simple tips, which will help guarantee that everyone has a fun and safe evening.”

Drivers are asked to exercise caution driving through neighborhoods and keep an eye out for children and families walking along and across roadways.

Police departments in all areas recommends that residents follow safety tips outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dressing Up

• Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls. Consider adding reflective tape to kids’ costumes and bags to help drivers see them.

• If temperatures are cold during trick-or-treating time, be sure to have your kids wear long sleeves and warm clothing under their costume.

• If a child is wearing a mask instead of make-up, make sure the eye holes are large enough to see through clearly. Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as a safer alternative to masks. Always test make-up in a small area of skin first and always remove make-up before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.

• When shopping for costume pieces, look for and purchase ones that are labeled as flame retardant.

• Swords, knives and other costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he or she stumbles or trips.

Trick-or-Treating

• Children under 12 should always be accompanied by an adult. Avoid trick-or-treating alone.

• If your older children are going out without parental supervision, go over ground rules first and set a curfew. Have them travel in a group, with a cell phone and flashlight. Make sure children know how to call 911 if they have an emergency.

Pedestrian injuries are very common on Halloween. Remind kids to stay in a group. They should walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic. Crosswalks should be used whenever possible and children should always look both ways before crossing the street.

• Only go to homes with a porch light on. Never go into a home or car for a treat.

• Examine all of your kids’ treats for choking hazards and tampering. Do not eat treats that have been opened, even partially. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.

As always, any suspicious person or vehicle should immediately be reported to Bedford Police by dialing 911.