Halloween: time for tricks and treats

SD&G – Ghosts and goblins will be scurrying from house to house tonight to mark Halloween across SD&G.

Cornwall police say they will have more officers out on community patrol tonight.

Police are also reminding motorists to be extra cautious as children may not be thinking clearly about safety as they take to the street to collect their Halloween treats.

There will be plenty of adults watching over kids tonight.

The Halloween Safety Patrols from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. are made up of Mobile Community Watch members and city police.

They will be in vehicles identified with Mobile Community Watch signs.

Cogeco will also have its white trucks on the street for their inaugural ‘Trick or Treat’ Patrol from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and are encouraging kids and parents to come to them if they need help.

SD&G O.P.P. will also be out on the roads and are warning pranksters that some of their pranks are actually public mischief under the Criminal Code.

They are also passing along these tips for Halloween night:

Motorists

• Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
• Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
• At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.

Parents

• Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.
• Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children’s companions.
• Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
• Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger’s home.
• Establish a return time.
• Tell your youngsters not to eat any treat until they return home.
• Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.
• Pin a slip of paper with the child’s name; address and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.

Costume Design

• Only fire-retardant materials should be used for costumes.
• Costumes should be loose so warm clothes can be worn underneath.
• Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard. (Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.)
• If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light colored materials. Strips of retro reflective tape should be used to make children visible.

Face Design

• Masks can obstruct a child’s vision. Use facial make-up instead.
• If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes.

Accessories

• Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.
• Bags or sacks carried by youngsters should be light-coloured or trimmed with retro-reflective tape if children are allowed out after dark
• Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.

Children

• Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision.
• Walk; do not run, from house to house. Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can present tripping hazards.
• Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.
• Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.

Treats

• Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten.
• When in doubt, throw it out.

Happy Halloween from Cornwall Newswatch.