The Garden City Telegram
Email this story | Add Your Comment
| Read (0) Comments
How to keep Halloween spooktacular
Published 10/29/2009 in Local News
By RACHAEL GRAY
As the ghouls and goblins of Garden City hit the pavement Saturday, safety for children and families always is a concern during the fall holiday.
Click to Purchase Photo Reprints!
Brad Nading/Telegram Trick or treaters approach the steps to a house last Halloween. Some safety precautions include wearing non-flammable costumes, wearing reflective costumes and not carrying sharp costume props.
Halloween brings people to the streets and sidewalks in droves, creating safety concerns for various reasons.
Finney County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Steve Martinez, crime prevention deputy, has some tips for people to keep in mind as they are out and about this weekend.
He said in order to avoid vehicle-pedestrian accidents, parents should pull their cars over to the curb and walk with their kids instead of following them down the street at slow speeds.
Going in groups with adults, carrying a flashlight and having reflectors on a candy bag or costume also can enable drivers to see pedestrians.
When crossing streets, always cross at the corners, Martinez said, and don't cut through yards because ornaments and decorations could cause trick-or-treaters to trip and injure themselves.
In a release, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment outlines areas for safety concerns on Halloween. They cite car and pedestrian crashes, falling in costumes, flammable costumes and choking as concerns.
According to the release, children are four times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other night of the year.
Safe Kids Kansas reminds parents and caregivers to make sure children going trick-or-treating are walking safely and staying visible to drivers.
The KDHE recommends costumes and bags have retroreflective tape, and if possible, the costume be made of light colors. Kids can carry glow sticks or flashlight to be more visible.
Jan Stegelman, Safe Kids Kansas coordinator, said drivers should be careful in residential neighborhoods and should slow down and look for kids at intersections, on medians and curbs.
To avoid falling in costumes, the KDHE recommends costumes should be short enough to avoid tripping. Shoes and headgear should fit properly, and face paint and makeup should not obstruct vision. Toy weapons and other props should be flexible so they do not cause harm if the child falls. Children shouldn't cut across yards where stones, lawn ornaments and other hazards may be hard to see in the dark. Keep doorsteps and porches lit well.
In order to avoid burns, make sure store-bought costumes and accessories are labeled "flame resistant," and use flame-resistant material when making costumes. Avoid baggy, flimsy or billowing costumes. Keep jack-o'-lanterns that are lit with candles away from doorsteps and walkways, and consider using glow sticks instead of candles.
To avoid children choking, parents should inspect candy and treats to make sure they are sealed and have no signs of tampering. Children younger than 6 should not be given hard candy or other small, round items.
Keeping trick-or-treaters safe this year is a concern, but petty crimes around town also are a concern, Martinez said.
"A lot of kids think they're just pranking when they smash pumpkins or throw eggs, but those become crimes when you damage something," he said. He encourages parents to talk to their kids about not pulling pranks on Halloween.
"When you take something, that's a crime. When you damage something, that's a crime," he said.
"Crimes have consequences. Doing a little pranking on Halloween isn't worth those consequences."
Keep safe
• Motorists should watch for children running into the street.
• After dark, motorists should watch for children wearing dark clothing.
• Carrying a flashlight can help children see and be seen more easily.
• A responsible adult should accompany small children at all times.
• Children should only visit homes of people they are familiar with.
• Teach children not to enter any home of a stranger.
• Parents should inspect all candy before it is eaten.
• Wash and cut fruit into small pieces before it is eaten.
• Unpackaged items or partially open candy should be discarded.
• Make sure your child’s costume is easy to walk in and can be seen at night.
• If masks are worn, children should be able to easily see out of them.
• Put reflective tape on your child’s costume for added visibility.
• Costume accessories such as swords or knives should not be sharp.
• Costumes should be made of non-flammable material.
Source: Garden City Police Department
Found 0 comment(s)!
Twitter Updates
