Tips on Halloween safety

Halloween is fast approaching, and young trick-or-treaters are often so exited by the fun that they forget to follow regular safety rules. Here are a few tips courtesy of the RCMP, and Winnipeg police and the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service to help keep youngsters safe.

Children

Never trick-or-treat alone. Always walk with an adult or a group of friends.
Make sure you can be seen. Wear reflective, bright colour costumes, or fasten reflective tape to your costume or bag.
Avoid masks that restrict your vision.
Only visit well-lit houses.
Don’t go into the house for your treats, always wait outside.
Don’t eat any treats until an adult has inspected them.
Carry a flashlight so you can see where you are going.
Don’t crisscross the street or run out from between parked cars. Always go down one side of the street, cross at the corner, and then the other side.
Watch out for cars pulling out of driveways and backing up.
Watch out for open flames from jack-o-lanterns and displays.
Don’t trample through gardens or bushes. Always use pathways and sidewalks.

Motorists

Halloween means there will be children on the streets. Drivers need to use extra caution. With the excitement of Halloween, children may forget simple pedestrian safety rules.
Drive slowly in residential areas where children are more likely to be trick-or-treating. Reduce your speed and stay alert.
Slow down and proceed with caution when entering and exiting driveways or backing up.

Homeowners

Keep your home and doorway well lit.
Clear sidewalks and pathways for safety.
Avoid using open flames in any displays.

The Winnipeg Police Service and the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service are also encouraging citizens to make Halloween a safe and enjoyable occasion.

Here are some general safety tips for everyone to consider:

Try to trick-or-treat when it is still light outside.
Wear a bright, reflective costume made of flame-resistant material.
Carry a flashlight, and use glow sticks, or reflective tape as part of your costume. Encourage children to stay away from open flames.
Ensure children know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire.
Why not use make-up instead of a mask? Masks can shift and obscure vision.
To prevent falls, ensure costumes fit well and aren’t too long and don’t have too much loose material.
Have a responsible adult go trick-or-treating with you.
If someone older cannot go with you, trick-or-treat as a group.
Plan your trick-or-treat route ahead of time. Pick well-lit streets.
Stay on sidewalks, look left, right and left again to be sure no cars are approaching before crossing the street. Always cross the street at corners and crosswalks; never cross between parked cars or in the middle of the block.
If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
Never enter the home of a stranger.
Discuss with your children the route they will be travelling and what time they are required to return home.
Only eat treats that have been examined by your parents.
Choking occurs most frequently among children under two years of age, but can happen at any age. Eating while playing, running, jumping, or talking increases the likelihood of choking.
ATTENTION DRIVERS! Children will be very excited and their actions could be sudden and unpredictable. Exercise caution and Just Slow Down.

Your home for Halloween:

Make sure your home is well lit, your yard clear and safe, and pets are secured so no harm comes to them or the children.
Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.
It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candles in a Jack-o-lantern. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. Make sure children are supervised when candles are lit.
Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn and far enough out of the way of trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, walkways and yards.
Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
Children should not use knives or other sharp instruments to carve pumpkins.