Keep Halloween safe for little monsters

QUINCY — Next Friday, Oct. 31, hordes of little ghosties, ghoulies and things that go bump in the night will be on the streets with one thing on their minds: massive amounts of sugar. And when they’re that focused, they don’t always watch out for themselves. 

“We are going to have extra patrols out and about, making sure all the kids are safe as they walk around,” said Quincy Police Sgt. Joe Westby. “But there are people who tend to drive (without paying attention) on the back streets when there are trick-or-treaters, and that’s usually our biggest problem.” 

One of the safest things children can do is get their candy fix at a trunk-or-treat or other community event. Quincy and Ephrata both have events downtown with streets closed off for safety, and many churches and community organizations are holding their own events in enclosed, safe places. 

Still, the tradition of going from house to house can be an appealing one, and that means taking some precautions. Many of those are the same rules children are taught the rest of the year – don’t walk in the street, cross in the crosswalks and don’t go into anyone’s house – but with all the excitement, they’re likely to forget, so parents and older siblings will need to keep an eye on them.  

“Kids get so focused on trick-or-treating that they forget (to think) ‘This is a road, that could be a car,’” Westby said.  

Since parents can’t always watch everything at once, it’s a good idea for grownups in one group to keep an eye out for other groups’ safety as well, Westby added. 

Part of the fun is costumes, of course. The National Safety Council recommends using non-toxic makeup and decorative hats instead of masks, avoiding long sticks or swords as accessories and making sure the costume isn’t long enough to trip on. 

“I would warn parents with little kids, especially sensitive ones, that there might be kids out with scarier costumes who (might) either intentionally or unintentionally scare little ones, and prepare the little ones to be aware of that,” Westby said. “If (older) kids are going out with something a little bit more scary than normal, (they should) be cautious of the little ones so they're not overstimulating them with fear.” 

Once the night is over, parents should check the treat bags for anything suspicious. It’s rare that treats are tampered with, according to the National Safety Council, but it could happen.  

“Don’t take candy that’s not wrapped,” Westby said. “Be cautious of home-baked stuff unless you know the person.” 

And of course, parents should make sure that a little of the goodie haul comes their way. 

“I’ll be dad-taxing the heck out of my son’s candy,” Westby said. 

Here are some guidelines from Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman: 

Parents and Guardians 

• Supervise children under 12 and establish a pre-planned, familiar route. 

• Use reflective tape, glow sticks, or flashlights to increase visibility. 

• Choose light-colored costumes and face paint instead of masks to avoid vision obstruction. 

• Ensure costumes are flame-resistant, well-fitting, and not too long to prevent tripping. 

• Inspect all candy before consumption – discard anything unwrapped or suspicious. 

• Pin contact information inside your child’s pocket in case of separation. 

• Avoid toy weapons and accessories that could cause injury. 

Trick-or-Treaters 

• Stay on sidewalks and face traffic if no sidewalk is available. 

• Cross only at corners or crosswalks, looking left, right, and left again. 

• Carry a flashlight with fresh batteries – point it downward in your treat bucket. 

• Never enter a stranger’s home or vehicle. 

• Stay in groups and return home by the agreed-upon time. 

• Avoid distractions like phones or headphones. 

Drivers 

• Slow down – drive at least 5 mph below the speed limit in residential areas. 

• Be alert for children who may dart between parked cars or across yards. 

• Turn on headlights early, even before sunset, to improve visibility. 

• Avoid distractions – no phones, loud music, or eating while driving. 

• Never drink and drive – plan for a sober ride if consuming alcohol. 

• Scan driveways and alleys carefully when entering or exiting. 

    A Quincy child holds up her bag for a treat last Halloween. While it’s very unlikely that treats are tampered with, it’s still a good idea to err on the side of caution, experts say.