Image Halloween 2006 – Uploaded by Terry.Tyson
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and the Winnipeg Police Service are 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.
A safe and happy Halloween to everyone!
