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Halloween Safety Tips from the Town’s Community Peace Officer

As families prepare for Halloween, the Town of Ponoka’s Community Peace Officer would like to remind trick-or-treaters, parents, guardians, homeowners and motorists of a few tips that can help make Halloween safe and fun for everyone.

Motorists:

  • Take extra caution and slow down along Town roadways;
  • Be especially alert in residential neighbourhoods;
  • Take additional time to look for children at intersections, on medians and curbs;
  • Enter and exit driveways and back alleys slowly and carefully; 
  • Turn your headlights on to spot children from greater distances; 
  • Watch carefully for people using pedestrian crossings; and
  • Avoid in-vehicle distractions, such as cell phones and loud music.

Homeowners:

  • Turn on your porch light to let children know they’re welcome;
  • Remove obstacles, such as lawn ornaments and gardening tools from yards, and place decorations out of the way to avoid tripping hazards; and
  • Use battery-powered lights instead of candles in jack-o’-lanterns to avoid any fire hazards.

Parents/Guardians:

  • A bright costume with reflector tape will make children more visible to drivers;
  • An adult should accompany young children; 
  • Parents/guardians should consider helping their kids plan a route and set a time to be home;
  • Caution children not to enter the home; and
  • An adult should inspect the candy to make sure it is safe for consumption.

Trick-or-treaters:

  • Avoid walking on the road. Please walk on sidewalks and/or pathways;
  • Only cross the street at intersections using crosswalks or traffic signals. Please look both directions before crossing the street;
  • Exercise extra caution around motorists along roadways and in parking lots;
  • Be aware of your surroundings;
  • Try to trick-or-treat while it’s still light out or stay in well-lit areas;
  • Use a flashlight for additional safety and increased visibility;
  • Do not accept rides from strangers; and
  • Travel in groups.

For more Halloween safety tips, please visit the Government of Canada website at www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/home-safety/halloween-safety.html