From Decatur PD’s Sgt. Jennifer Ross…

Decatur loves celebrating Halloween and we want everyone to have a good time.  The Decatur Police Department will have additional officers and volunteers patrolling neighborhoods, parks, school properties, the Decatur Cemetery and business districts in marked patrol cars, unmarked cars, bicycles and on foot.  During Halloween there is more vehicular and pedestrian traffic in residential neighborhoods, including many children who are excited and distracted.  Please be extra cautious and aware.

A few extra tips:

• Be bright at night! Make sure costumes have something reflective, carry a flashlight or clip on a flashing light like the ones runners and cyclists use to increase visibility.
• Make sure to cross streets properly. Look both ways before crossing and cross at corners or crosswalks. Walking out from in between parked cars is very dangerous because you may not be seen until it is too late.
• Know where older kids and teens are and check up on them.
• Talk to your kids about the difference between fun and vandalism. Throwing eggs may seem funny but it causes damage to the property of others, which is a crime, and it is rude.

Have fun on Halloween and keep it safe!  For more Halloween safety tips, please visit http://www.halloween-safety.com/

Deputy Chief Keith Lee sends along this list of Halloween safety tips and notes that DPD will have extra officers on duty Monday…

Halloween may be a fun day for children, but for parents, trick-or-treat time can be a little tricky. To make Halloween a treat for all, follow these safety tips:

1) MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN DRESS UP SAFELY
A) Check that the costumes are flame retardant so the little ones are not in danger near burning jack-o-lanterns and other fire hazards.

B) Keep costumes short to prevent trips, falls, and other bumps in the night.

C) Try make-up instead of a mask. Masks can be hot and uncomfortable. More importantly, they can obstruct a child’s vision, which can be dangerous when crossing streets and going up and down steps.

D) Make sure children wear light colors or put reflective tape on their costumes.

E) Trick-or-treaters should always walk in groups so they are not tempting targets for real-life goblins. Parents should accompany their children when trick-or-treating, even the older children.

 

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