Ensure safe Halloween fun, memories

The spookiest night of the year is upon us, about two weeks away depending on when you’re reading. It’s pretty easy to get in the spirit of the Halloween season; what’s not to love about tasty candy, fun costumes and a classic scary movie or ghost story around a campfire? Halloween is a quintessential part of the fall season, replete with amazing traditions like making candy apples, carving pumpkins, visiting haunted attractions or enjoying a hayride or weenie roast.

But while this festive fun abounds, we need to be sure it’s also a safe time for all. The usual Halloween safety advice – from authoritative sources like We Save Lives and Safe Kids Worldwide – always applies and is always worth repeating:

• When trick-or-treating or attending other after-dark events, carry glow sticks or flashlights, use reflective tape or stickers on costumes and bags and wear light colors to help see and be seen, especially when near roadways.
• Don’t let children younger than age 12 go trick-or-treating alone.
• If older children are trick-or-treating alone, plan and review the route with them. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
• While driving on Halloween night or in the vicinity of a Halloween festival or other seasonal event, slow down and be alert. Children might dart into the street, forgetting safety rules in their excitement. Turn on headlights early in the day to spot people from further away.
• Remind children to cross the street at corners or crosswalks.
• Don’t assume cars will stop just because they have the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters.
• When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls. Choose face paint over masks when possible. Masks can limit children’s vision.

Trick-or-treating is a fun tradition, but don’t forget the many organized events planned for our area. A number of local churches will have fall festivals, carnivals and “trunk-or-treat” events, and you can also enjoy local fun like the Scarecrow Trail at City Lake Park. Turn to our community calendar on page 3 of each week’s paper to see some planned events, and be sure to send us the details for any events you know about so we can share them with the community.

Let’s make sure Halloween is safe and fun for everyone.