It’s that time of year again when little ghouls and goblins will be heading out to trick or treat! Tuesday night brings all the frightfully good fun and the Cranbrook and Kimberley RCMP would love to see all the kids having a safe, exciting night.
Here are some Halloween Safety Tips For Parents and Kids:
Before your children hit the streets, know the route they plan to follow.
Carrying glow sticks, or using reflective tape or flashlights are always a good idea
If you are unable to take them out yourself, consider asking another parent, an older sibling or babysitter to do the honours for you.
Teach your children to recognize the places along his/her route where they can get help: Police Station, Fire Station or any other well indicated public place.
Stay on the sidewalks (If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left-hand side of the street facing traffic).
Use crosswalks whenever possible: Visit houses on one side of the street at a time and cross the street only at intersections or at marked crosswalks.
Stop and check for cars before crossing the street. Drivers might not be able to see you if you are wearing dark clothing.
Discuss with your children what they should do to call home in case of emergency.
Safety in numbers: Walk in groups and stay together.
Stay on the outside: Never enter a house; only accept treats at the front door.
Don’t pick up any fireworks. Don’t hold them or try to light them.
Don’t pet animals that you don’t know.
Save your treats: Wait until you get home before sampling your treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should check out all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
Safety Tips for Drivers:
Expect the unexpected: slow down, look for pedestrians. The chances of getting into a serious or fatal collision are multiplied when there are lots of kids and teens out on the streets.
Drive slowly in residential areas where children are more likely to be trick-or-treating. Did you know that drivers cannot accurately judge their own speed when driving? The higher the speed, the less likely you are to see a child pedestrian, and the harder it is to stop quickly.
Watch out for kids, many of whom may be wearing costumes with masks that make it difficult for them to see. With the excitement of Halloween, children may forget simple pedestrian safety rules. They have a tendency to dart out in the most unexpected places - the most common being between parked cars. Remember also that costumes can limit a child’s vision and they may not be able to see your vehicle.
Reduce your distractions and stay alert. All your concentration should be on the road, not diverted by cell phones or loud music.
Remember to enter and exit driveways slowly and carefully. Excited trick-or-treaters may run on sidewalks, or dart out unexpectedly. Proceed with caution, when entering or exiting the roadway.
Remember that there will be more foot traffic on Halloween night and that most of it will be excited young children so leave yourself extra time to navigate residential streets.
The local RCMP members will be doing extensive patrols during prime trick or treating hours to help ensure a safe Halloween Night.