**** HRP/ RCMP/ HRFE (monster) mash Release

Tonight, is Halloween – a night filled with candy, creepy costumes and time with friends. To ensure that the night is fun and memorable, Halifax Regional Police is sharing these Halloween safety tips:

Trick-or-treaters, parents and guardians:

• Follow normal pedestrian safety rules. Look both ways before crossing the street and watch for vehicles (especially vehicles backing out of driveways).
• Trick-or-treat in groups; never alone.
• Try to limit criss-crossing the street. Go down one side of the street, then up the other.
• Ensure Halloween costumes are bright, reflective and fit well. Confirm that costumes allow the wearer to see clearly. Consider using face paint or makeup instead of a mask.
• Carry a flashlight and stay close to well-lit areas.
• Be sure an adult checks all Halloween candy before trick-or-treaters dig in.
• Trick-or-treaters should tell their parents and/or guardians their Halloween route and when they expect to be home.
• Dress warmly.
• Watch for open flames and be careful around jack-o-lanterns.
• Stay outside while trick-or-treating. Never enter someone’s home.

Motorists:

• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Slow down and pay attention.

• Check mirrors and the surrounding area before reversing​ from driveways and proceed with caution. ​ ​
• Costumes should not restrict movement, impede vision or interfere with the safe operation of your vehicle.

• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​As always, drive only when sober.​

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Homeowners:

• Keep your doorway well-lit; clear of tripping hazards and open flames.
• Give out only commercially-wrapped snacks.
• Ensure trick-or-treaters stay outside of your home. It is dangerous to allow them inside.
• Keep pets inside on Halloween. Costumes and loud noises may scare them.

Community members:

• Contact police if you notice anything suspicious or require assistance.

HRFE

HRFE Media Release

Halloween Fire Safety Tips via the HRFE

* When choosing a costume, stay away from long trailing fabric. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so he or she can see out.

* Provide children with flashlights to carry for lighting or glow sticks as part of their costume.

* Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decorations away from open flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters.

* Use a battery-operated candle or glow-stick in jack-o-lanterns. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution.  Make sure children are watched at all times when candles are lit. When lighting candles inside jack-o-lanterns, use long, fireplace-style matches or a utility lighter. 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.

* Make sure all smoke alarms in the home are working.

* Tell children to stay away from open flames including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire.  Have them practice, stopping immediately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with hands, and rolling over and over to put the flames out.

If your children are going to Halloween parties at others’ homes, have them look for ways out of the home and plan how they would get out in an emergency.

DYK: Decorations are the first thingto ignite in 900 reported home fires each year. Two of every five of these fires were started by a candle.

Wishing everyone a fang-tastic and safe night!

Do you have a great photo of your child demonstrating any of the safety tips above? Feel free to send it to us! We will share some of the photos in a social media collage after Halloween. Photos can be sent through direct message on Facebook (Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Nova Scotia) or Twitter (@RCMPNS).

Everyone deserves to get home safely after trick-or-treating. Please help protect all trick-or-treaters by following the tips above. Happy Halloween!

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