Ghosts and witches need to be safe in order to have a spooktacular Halloween.
The Timmins Police Service is reminding everyone heading out trick-or-treating this Halloween of a few safety tips. Communications and “Walking Dead” Coordinator Marc Depatie says trick-or-treaters should always:
- Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks
- Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross
- Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street
- Children should make an effort to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them
- Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should map out their routes ahead of time, choosing the trek with the fewest street crossings
- Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Children should never dart out into the street or cross between parked vehicles
- Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups
- Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision
- Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers
- When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls
“Watching for cares pays huge dividends for these little ghosts and goblins so we hope they do that.” Depatie adds that “we also want them to decorate their costume bags or their costumes with reflective tape or stickers and if possible carry a flashlight or glowsticks so they can be seen by oncoming traffic.”
Depatie says if you plan on driving anywhere on Wednesday night, you are reminded to:
- Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
- Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, and on curbs
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully
- Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings
- Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances
- Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours
TPS says parents should also check all of the candy your kids bring home before they dive into the treats. “Sadly this is part of the Halloween requirement,” Depatie says. “anything that seems out of the ordinary or suspicious in nature should be reported to police without delay.” He says police just want to ensure that everyone has a spooktacular Halloween.