KAMLOOPS — ‘Tis the season for ghosts and ghouls, but beware! With Halloween fast approaching, safety should be a top priority.
Before parents head out with their trick-or-treaters, there are a few things Kamloops RCMP and Kamloops Fire Rescue want you to know, to ensure everyone has a fun and a spooky, but not too scary Halloween.
The pumpkins are carved, the costumes are prepped. And in just a few short days Kamloops will be full of little ghosts, goblins, princesses and superheroes, as kids get ready to trick-or-treat.
“Everybody wants to have fun, it’s a great time, I’m looking forward to going out with my kids to partake in the festivities, but with that comes a responsibility to be safe,” says Cpl. Jody Neuls.
As everyone gets into the spooky spirit of Halloween safety should be top of mind. When roaming the streets in the quest for candy on Halloween night, it’s important to follow a few simple tips.
“When you’re traveling around the community, use your sidewalks, use your crosswalks, don’t be darting out in between vehicles, and if you’re wearing a costume, make sure it’s not dragging, tripping hazards, think about your visibility if you can see.”
RCMP say don’t mask your vision, use makeup instead of putting on that scary looking face. Motorists are advised to stay alert, slow down and watch for children walking on the roadways. Trick-or-treaters should also make themselves obvious to drivers and light it up.
“You can add reflective tape to your outfit, or put light sticks around your neck or hold a flashlight while your kids are walking, try to be as visible as possible before you head out that day,” says Cpl. Neuls.
Exercise extreme caution when it comes to open flames, whether it’s a candle in a jack-o-lantern or in the house, know that decorations and costumes could combust. And Kamloops Fire Rescue reminds everyone fireworks are an explosive device and can pose a big danger.
“We don’t want anyone to be discharging a firework and holding it in their hand, they have malfunctioned in the past and people have sustained serious injuries from losing fingers, parts of hands to more serious injuries where the firework has been discharged and will embed itself underneath the skin,” says Dean Olstad
The City of Kamloops prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from buying or using fireworks, and those who are eligible need a permit to do so. Each Halloween, firefighters respond to countless firework-related calls.
“We have had shrubs set on fire, we’ve had them being used to set other things on fire, we’ve had sheds, cars that have been set on fire with the use of fireworks.”
Before the kids hit the streets, parents be aware of the route their children plan to follow. And save your treats, though tampering is rare, adults should inspect and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious pieces of candy.
“If you’re bringing in something to your house your kids are going eat it, it would be best from a safety perspective, take a look at it, is the wrapper in tact, does it look like it’s been tampered with and satisfy yourself before giving it the green light to consume it,” says Cpl. Neuls.
