Ghosts, goblins, spooks, and most of all…the free and plentiful candy makes Halloween one of the most joyful days of the year for a lot of children, and has gained popularity with a lot of adults as well.
Halloween is just days away, next Tuesday, October 31, and the City of Albany would like to remind everyone that Trick-or-Treat hours are officially scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m.
All children, including those in the county, are also encouraged to observe those hours when trick-or-treating door-to-door in their neighborhoods and communities.
Although Halloween is an exciting and fun time, especially for children, there are also hazards and risks involved, and observing safety for all our youngsters is important.
In past years, there has been a push for more “one-stop” locations for children to gather and have fun and get treats without having to go long distances.
Several community organizations now offer such locations for children to go and have fun in one place, including Boo Fest, a now annual event held at the VFW Post on Hopkins Street.
Another location this year where children can get candy in a safe environment is a new event called “Come out and Trick or Treat with The Sheriff,” which will be held from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the Albany Fire Department and is sponsored by the Clinton County’s Sheriff Department.
These are just a couple of the safer, one-stop locations parents and caregivers may consider taking their children this Halloween evening.
There are also always several local churches in the area that offers the Trunk-or-Treat events and activities for children and adults alike as an alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating.
For those who like the more traditional, door-to-door trick-or-treat activities in their areas on Halloween night, it is important for kids and adults alike to follow some basic safety procedures to keep everyone safe while having fun.
A reminder to those who wish to accept trick-or-treaters on Halloween night, please leave porch or outside lights on and clean yards, porches, driveways, etc. of debris.
Children should only go to homes where outside lights are on.
The following are some basic safety tips to consider implementing while trick-or-treating on Halloween:
Walk Safely
1. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
2. Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
3. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
4. Always walk on sidewalks or paths.
5. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
6. Join kids under 12 for trick-or-treating.
Costumes for a safe Halloween
1. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape and stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
2. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
3. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
4. When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
Drive extra safely on Halloween
1. Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods.
2. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
3. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
4. Get rid of any distractions–like your phone.
5. Turn on your headlights earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
Some other reminders:
* All costume, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant.
* Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween.
* If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you and agree on a specific time children should return home.
* Teach your children never to enter a stranger’s home or car.
* Instruct your children only to travel on familiar, well-lit areas.
* Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home, and take care to avoid any food allergies.
Here’s a scary statistic: Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Lack of visibility because of low lighting at night also plays a factor in these incidents.
How can we make Halloween safer for pets?
You can protect your pets by taking these steps to reduce the risk of them being hurt, poisoned, or lost:
* Don’t feed pets Halloween treats. Often, you won’t be able to tell what a treat or piece of candy contains just by looking at it.
* Make sure your pets have identification that will make it easy for someone to contact you and return them home in case they escape through an open door while you’re distracted with trick-or-treaters.
* Keep lit candles, jack-o’-lanterns, and other Halloween decorations out of reach of pets.
* Keep all human costume pieces away from pets, along with glow sticks, decorations, batteries, and other holiday items.
* If you plan to put a costume on your pet, make sure it follows these guidelines: fits properly and is comfortable; doesn’t have any pieces that can easily be chewed off or cause choking; doesn’t block your pet’s sight, hearing, breathing, mouth, or movement.
* Take time before Halloween to get your pet accustomed to the costume, and never leave a costumed pet unsupervised.
* If your pet is wary of strangers or has a tendency to bite, put them in a room away from the front door during trick-or-treat hours, or provide them with a safe hiding place.
* Keep your pet indoors.