From the Nova Scotia RCMP:
It’s Halloween night and soon our streets will be crawling with clowns, cats and Kings searching for treats.
Halloween is a highly anticipated event and all this excitement can mean safety takes a back seat. That’s why we’re asking parents/ guardians, trick-or-treaters, motorists and homeowners to refresh their Halloween safety knowledge.
Parents and guardians:
Make sure your child can been seen. Bright or light coloured clothing, reflective tape/arm bands and flashlights are all great ways to do this.
Make sure your child’s costume fits properly to reduce their chance of tripping.
If your child is wearing a mask, check to make sure they can see properly.
Know your child’s trick or treating route, who they plan to go with and when they plan to come home. Better yet, share in the Halloween fun and go with them!
Remind children to stay in well-lit areas.
Make sure your child knows where they can get help if needed: police stations, fire stations and trusted neighbours are all good options.
Trick or treaters:
Wear bright clothes or a light coloured costume.
Wear reflective tape/arm bands to make sure motorists can see you. Accessorize with a flashlight!
Make sure your costume fits properly to reduce the chances of tripping.
If you plan to wear a mask, make sure you can see properly while wearing it.
Trick or treat with a parent or guardian. If you’re old enough to be on your own, stay with a group.
Always walk on sidewalks. If there are none, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
Watch for cars pulling out of driveways and backing up.
Never enter a house. Only accept treats at the front door.
Wait until you get home to try your treats and get a trusted adult to check them first.
Motorists:
Slow down and pay attention.
Check mirrors and the surrounding area before reversing from driveways and proceed with caution.
Costumes should not restrict movement, impede vision or interfere with the safe operation of your vehicle.
As always, drive only when sober.
Homeowners:
Many people look forward to transforming their homes into eerie scenes. When decorating, keep sidewalks and pathways free of obstacles to avoid tripping or falling.
Keep your home and doorway well lit with outdoor lights.
Make sure that all props hanging, dangling, or draped are steadily secured.
Do you have a great photo of your child demonstrating any of the safety tips above? Feel free to send it to us! We will share some of the photos in a social media collage after Halloween. Photos can be sent through direct message on Facebook (Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Nova Scotia) or Twitter (@RCMPNS).
Everyone deserves to get home safely after trick-or-treating. Please help protect all trick-or-treaters by following the tips above. Happy Halloween!
