It’s Halloween — the night of fun and frights. All across Canyons, schools are celebrating All Hallows Eve with parades, parties, dances and other activities.
But Halloween hijinks won’t end at the heralding of the last school bell. As soon as the sun sets Monday, your family’s little zombies, witches and ghosts will head out to haunt neighborhoods to fill their bags with Snickers, Twizzlers and Twix.
To keep families safe, Canyons District is passing along a handful of safety tips. Canyons’ Risk Management Coordinator Ryan Jakeman says students should never travel alone, even under the light of a full moon. It’s best to go trick-or-treating in pairs or packs, he said.
To stay safe while walking from house to house, Jakeman says, make sure your accompanied-by-an-adult caped crusaders are carrying flashlights or glowsticks or have reflective tape tacked to the fronts and backs of their costumes.
It’s tempting to let your ballerina or Disney princess don slippers for the night — but comfortable and safe walking shoes are best.
Lack of good footwear to could lead to cut, bruised or blistered feet, he said. “It’s also so they don’t twist an ankle trying to walk in high heels they have not walked in before,” Jakeman said.
Families should take stock of the weather before heading out the door. Temperatures tonight are expected to be in the 40s so coats or jackets – under or over costumes — are advisable.
Drivers also are urged to slow down as they’re maneuvering through neighborhoods. “Take extreme caution while driving neighborhoods,” Jakeman said.
After all, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year, according to the National Safety Council.
“There will be a high concentration of pedestrians tonight. You never know if a kid will run out into the street unannounced,” Jakeman said.
The National Safety Council also advises that parents — or anyone else who plans to be on the road during trick-or-treat hours — to keep eyes peeled for dashing princes and runaway brides, especially when the trick-or-treating children are walking on roadways, medians, and curbs.
In addition, motorists are asked to enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully, and new or inexperienced drivers and should turn the wheel over to those who have been down the block more than a time or two.
At the end of the night, Jakeman said, parents should examine the haul of goodies the costumed kiddos bring home. Make sure the wrappers are intact and treats haven’t been touched or altered.
By taking these precautions, experts say, you can stop your Halloween night from turning into a real nightmare.
