Peggy Revell
It’s that time of the year when little goblins, witches, ghost,s and other creatures will be out on the streets trick-or-treating.
To make sure this Hallowe’en is a safe one, Fort Frances OPP Cst. Anne McCoy has been travelling from school to school across the district for the past week, giving talks to students about Hallowe’en safety as well as distributing glow sticks to make sure children are more visible while going from door to door.
The program is part of the annual “Project Safe Hallowe’en,” organized by Family and Children’s Services here with the help of the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition.
Now in its sixth year, the program distributes glow sticks to children. It was nominated for a provincial safety award and has inspired other communities across the province to hand out glow sticks for children on Hallowe’en.
Alongside activities to help students learn about staying safe on Hallowe’en, Cst. McCoy also went through some important safety tips for the big night, including:
•Go trick-or-treating with a parent or another responsible adult.
•If children are trick-or-treating with friends, make sure they stick together and no one is left behind.
•Have an established route and make sure parents know the route being taken, and the estimated time it will take to complete the route. Children who are old enough should wear a watch so they can keep track of time.
•Ensure costumes are short enough so they will not be tripped over.
•Try to use makeup instead of a mask so that vision isn’t limited.
•Make costumes as visible as possible, such as through carrying a glow stick around the wrist, a flashlight, or with reflective tape.
•While trick-or-treating, don’t zig-zag back and forth across the street. Stick to one side and cross only at safe locations.
•Use sidewalks when possible, and walk facing traffic if you have to walk on the roadway. Also, keep away from parked cars.
•Watch out for cars, especially if it’s snowing, dark out, or raining, since it is harder for drivers to see and stop quickly in those conditions.
•Walk from house to house, do not run.
•Watch out for unsafe things that could be outside of a home, such as obstacles on lawns, walkways, and porches, including lawn ornaments or clotheslines.
•Stay away from open fires and candles.
•Unless accompanied by an adult, only stop at familiar houses in your own neighbourhood.
•Avoid houses that are not well-lit.
•Never enter a home or car for any reason. If unsure, children should always ask your parent whether it’s okay.
•Stay in well-lit areas and avoid back alleys, fields, parks, and other out-of-the-way places.
•Stay away from the railway tracks and railway yards.
•If lost, look for another child trick-or-treating with their parent and ask them for help. Also, parents should write their children’s address and phone number on a piece of paper and put it in their pocket incase they get lost.
•Parents should check candy before it is eaten to make sure all items are sealed, and wrappers are not broken or damaged.
Cst. McCoy also asked that older children remember they are role models for younger children, and act accordingly so everyone has a fun holiday.
Parents also can pick up glow sticks for younger children at the municipal offices in Emo, Devlin, Rainy River, and Atikokan.
FACS offices also will have glow sticks available tomorrow and Friday (Oct. 30-31) from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
The glow sticks last for only about six hours, and should be worn around the wrist so they are visible from both the front and back.
