With Edmonton streets on the brink of invasion by princesses, superheroes, ghosts and pirates, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) is out with some safety tips to ensure everyone has a fun and safe Halloween.
“The key is to make sure your children can be seen when they’re out there in the dark. Ensure they have some reflective material on them or they have a flashlight with them,” said EPS spokesperson Scott Pattison. “It’s very important for a parent to be close by, to make sure when they’re crossing the street they’re doing so at legal cross walks.”
Halloween is usually one of the safest nights of the year, due to the numbers of people on city streets, but Pattison reminds people to remain vigilant, especially behind the wheel.
“Children can run across streets in excitement, we want to make sure their parents are near by keeping a close eye on their kids.”
Other things to consider include, using make-up instead of masks for non-obstructed vision, be sure to trick-or-treat in familiar neighborhoods, to have older children heading out without a parent to travel in groups and to be sure to check any candy before eating it.
“When you’re going through the candy, it’s good for parents to inspect things” added Pattison. “Anything that’s open make sure you throw it out, just be on the safe side.”
With a fresh blanket of snow the city also reminded homeowners to keep sidewalks and driveways clear. A list of community sandboxes can be found on the city website or by calling 311.