Halloween Safety Tips from Con Edison

While many local governments in Westchester County are advising against trick-or-treating tonight (some for the second year in a row), Con Edison has issued a statement offering tips for those intent on celebrating Halloween outdoors:

• Avoid any downed electrical wires or equipment. Treat any wire that’s in the street or on lawns as if it’s carrying electricity, which can carry painful shocks. They also should avoid any puddles or standing water, which can conduct electricity. More than 5,000 wires fell to Sandy’s wicked ride through our area.
• Be careful crossing streets, especially at corners with no red lights. Hold on to younger brothers, sisters and friends when crossing the street. Be sure to look both ways.
• Carry a flashlight when walking even if the street is lighted, but definitely if Hurricane Sandy snuffed out street lights.
• Wear a safety vest. They not only are cool but keep little trick or treaters visible to drivers and others.
• Never go into a stranger’s house. Make sure mom or dad, a guardian, or an older sister or brother, is within sight.
• Children should always let their parents know where they are going.
• Children are urged to be careful near Con Edison work sites in their neighborhoods.

As of 5:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Con Edison reports 180,807 Westchester County customers remain without power, of the nearly 350,000 served.

The company has not offered updated power restoration estimates for the county or individual municipalities, though states it is in constant contact with the Westchester County Office of Emergency Management.

At a press conference at Playland Tuesday, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino said parents should use "common sense" when making a decision about trick-or-treating today.

If your neighborhood did not suffer much damage and has electricity, parents can decide to go out, he said.

But, “it is not worth going out to get a Snickers bar and getting hurt.”

Local Editor Liz Giegerich contributed to this report.