Halloween is coming up on Wednesday of next week. It’s a time when ghosts, goblins and other undead characters of all ages dress up and either go trick-or-treating or enjoy fall festivals and parties.
However, the holiday can be a scary time for families. True, we may not have a crime epidemic like surrounding counties have, but it’s always a good idea to keep your children safe on this holiday.
One way you can do that is to attend trick-or-treating events, such as the CMRC Fall festival on Monday, Decatur Chamber of Commerce’s Treat Street on Tuesday or the Newton Chamber of Commerce’s trick-or-treating event on Halloween day.
At events like these, children are allowed to get candy in a secure environment. But even at these events, they draw a big crowd. So you have to look out for kids like me, who tended to wander off in his or little world.
But if you are going to go out and trick-or-treat on Halloween on the streets, here are a few safety tips that you should think about.
• Never go trick-or-treating alone, and always stay in a familiar neighborhood.
• Make sure there aren’t any parts of your costume that drag on
the ground or block
your vision.
• Cross streets at crosswalks, and never enter the street from in between parked cars.
• Trick-or-treat only at houses that are lit up.
• Stay away from pets. Even pets you know
may not recognize you
in your costume.
• Children should never go inside of anyone’s home or car to get candy or treats.
For those of you decorating your houses or hosting parties, here are a few things to remember:
• Keep decorations and costumes away from open flames and heat sources such as lights and heaters.
• Keep all exits clear of Halloween decorations so that escape routes are not blocked.
• Try using glow sticks or battery operated candles in Jack-o-lanterns instead of real candles.
Let’s have a wonderful and safe Halloween this year.
Contact Brent at bmaze@-newtoncountyappeal.com.
