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Safety tips from PCSD for Halloween

10/30/2018

With most towns celebrating Halloween Tuesday, due to the possibility of inclement weather on Wednesday, which is Halloween, Prairie County Sheriff Rick Hickman has some tips for the public as they head out to enjoy the world of trick-or-treating. 

According to Hickman, the towns he knows that will be celebrating the holiday Tuesday evening include Des Arc, Hazen and Biscoe. 

Kids are going to fall, crash, slip and tumble. It’s all part of being a kid, but some can be avoided. There are little things parents/guardians can all do to ensure that kids avoid the more serious injuries that can lead to disabilities and even death.

And department would like to make it easy for those with children, filled with excitement, for the costumes, candy and a night of fun. 

Those safety tips include:

  • Fake knives, swords, guns and other costume accessories can potentially cause injury. make sure they are not too long for the costume and review with your child that they are part of the costume and not a weapon. Make sure they are made out of cardboard or other flexible materials;
  • Only purchase costumes and accessories that marked flame resistant; 
  • Keep costumes short to prevent trips and falls; 
  • Try using makeup instead of a mask. Masks can obstruct a child's vision, which can be dangerous when kids are crossing streets and going up stairs; 
  • Costumes with light colors and/or reflective tape are best. Someone in the group should carry a flashlight. Consider putting reflective tape on their candy bags also; 
  • Children should always trick-or-treat in groups, rather than alone, preferably with adult supervision. Children should carry a cell phone for quick communication; 
  • Parents should select the safest route for children to take. Children should stay on sidewalks (where available) or on the shoulder of the roadway facing traffic. Children should avoid walking in the roadway, in alleys or poorly lit areas and be cautious not to dart from behind shrubs or parked vehicles; 
  • Drivers should slow down and use extreme caution, especially in neighborhoods where children are sure to be located; 
  • children should be instructed to stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on. They should also be advised to never go into a home or car to collect treats. they should not stop at houses that are dark or do not have the porch lights turned on;
  • As an alternative of going door-to-door, parents can take their children to community-sponsored events such as those hosted by community centers, churches, schools, etc.;
  • Children should not eat any treats until they get home and a parent or an adult can examine them; 
  • Children (and adults) should only consume unopened candy and treats in original wrappers. Treats with open packaging or torn wrappers should be discarded. 

For more Halloween safety tips visit www.safekids.org