Halloween safety: Make it all treat, no tricks
By Earl Horlyk | Posted: Friday, October 31, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- Halloween should be a great night for your little ghost or goblin, but parents need to follow some simple safety tips to ensure that tonight it's all treat and no tricks.
"Halloween is one of most dangerous days of the year for kids," said Amy Scarmon, co-coordinator of Safe Kids - Woodbury County. "Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than the rest of the year."
That's because the days are getting shorter and motorists may not be able to see young trick or treaters darting from home to home.
"It's easy for kids to get caught up in the excitement of the holidays," Scarmon said. "That may make them less cautious when it comes to looking both ways when crossing the street."
Scarmon said that parents should accompany kids under the age of 10. She added that parents should remind all kids about traffic signals.
"Since Halloween falls on a Friday this year, traffic may be heavier than usual," she added. "We want both trick or treaters and travelers to be extra cautious this Halloween."
Safe trick or treating
Hours: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today in Sioux City, North Sioux City and South Sioux City.
Costumes: Should be made of fire-retardant material. Eye holes for masks should be large enough for good peripheral vision. Better yet, substitute nontoxic face paint, which will improve your child's visibility in the dark.
Props: Should be smooth and flexible enough not to cause injury
Visibility: Kids should carry a flashlight or glow sticks to make them more visible to cars. Reflective tape on dark costumes will also make them more visible.
Staying safe: Adults should accompany kids, but if children trick or treat without supervision, make sure they stay in a group, know the route they will be taking and set a time for their return home.
Stay in familiar neighborhoods and visit only homes that have their porch lights on.
Pedestrians: Walk on well-lit sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Make sure that kids walk in areas with a minimum of street crossings.
Treats: Before allowing your kids to eat their treats, examine the candy for signs of tampering.
Tips for motorists
* Watch for children darting out from between parked cars or walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
* Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
* At twilight and later in the evening, watch for kids in dark clothing and costumes.
Source: Sioux City Police Department
Halloween happenings
Halloween at the Museum: Lights will be on from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Sioux City Public Museum, 2801 Jackson St. Jolly Time microwavable popcorn donated by Sioux City's own American Pop Corn Co. will be distributed to trick-or-treaters of all ages. The museum's exhibits also will be open throughout the evening.
Southern Hills Mall will host little ghosts and goblins for its annual mallwide trick-or-treat event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Youngsters are invited to dress up in their Halloween costumes and go from store to store. Participants must be 12 years old or younger and be accompanied by an adult.
Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA in South Sioux City will host a Halloween party from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A costume contest is scheduled at 6 p.m., and parents are encouraged to dress in costume, too. The event is free for members; there will be a $5 admission fee for nonmembers.
Greater Dakota Valley Jaycees will host a free Halloween party for all ages from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the North Sioux City Senior Center, 114 Main St. The event will feature crafts, games and a haunted hallway. Donations of used cell phones for the Cell Phones for Soldiers Program will be accepted.
Briar Cliff University will open its Haunted Tunnels to the public from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; entry is on the ground floor of Heelan Hall. Admission is $2 for adults and children age 8 and older. Children 7 and younger will be admitted free.
Sioux City Community Theatre, 1401 Riverside Blvd., will host Tristan Christ's presentation of "Illusions of Reality" at 1 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. today and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The theater will host Spooktacular, a family-friendly event that is free to the public, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The event includes carnival games, face painting, Halloween crafts and skits and balloon art. Punch-cards are available for $5 or $10 to participate in activities. Lunch and dinner are available during the event. A costume contest for all ages will be at 4 p.m. Tickets for "Illusions of Reality" are $5 for matinees and $10 for evening shows. Children 3 and younger get in free.
"Halloween is one of most dangerous days of the year for kids," said Amy Scarmon, co-coordinator of Safe Kids - Woodbury County. "Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than the rest of the year."
That's because the days are getting shorter and motorists may not be able to see young trick or treaters darting from home to home.
"It's easy for kids to get caught up in the excitement of the holidays," Scarmon said. "That may make them less cautious when it comes to looking both ways when crossing the street."
Scarmon said that parents should accompany kids under the age of 10. She added that parents should remind all kids about traffic signals.
"Since Halloween falls on a Friday this year, traffic may be heavier than usual," she added. "We want both trick or treaters and travelers to be extra cautious this Halloween."
Safe trick or treating
Hours: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today in Sioux City, North Sioux City and South Sioux City.
Costumes: Should be made of fire-retardant material. Eye holes for masks should be large enough for good peripheral vision. Better yet, substitute nontoxic face paint, which will improve your child's visibility in the dark.
Props: Should be smooth and flexible enough not to cause injury
Visibility: Kids should carry a flashlight or glow sticks to make them more visible to cars. Reflective tape on dark costumes will also make them more visible.
Staying safe: Adults should accompany kids, but if children trick or treat without supervision, make sure they stay in a group, know the route they will be taking and set a time for their return home.
Stay in familiar neighborhoods and visit only homes that have their porch lights on.
Pedestrians: Walk on well-lit sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Make sure that kids walk in areas with a minimum of street crossings.
Treats: Before allowing your kids to eat their treats, examine the candy for signs of tampering.
Tips for motorists
* Watch for children darting out from between parked cars or walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
* Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
* At twilight and later in the evening, watch for kids in dark clothing and costumes.
Source: Sioux City Police Department
Halloween happenings
Halloween at the Museum: Lights will be on from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Sioux City Public Museum, 2801 Jackson St. Jolly Time microwavable popcorn donated by Sioux City's own American Pop Corn Co. will be distributed to trick-or-treaters of all ages. The museum's exhibits also will be open throughout the evening.
Southern Hills Mall will host little ghosts and goblins for its annual mallwide trick-or-treat event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Youngsters are invited to dress up in their Halloween costumes and go from store to store. Participants must be 12 years old or younger and be accompanied by an adult.
Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA in South Sioux City will host a Halloween party from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A costume contest is scheduled at 6 p.m., and parents are encouraged to dress in costume, too. The event is free for members; there will be a $5 admission fee for nonmembers.
Greater Dakota Valley Jaycees will host a free Halloween party for all ages from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the North Sioux City Senior Center, 114 Main St. The event will feature crafts, games and a haunted hallway. Donations of used cell phones for the Cell Phones for Soldiers Program will be accepted.
Briar Cliff University will open its Haunted Tunnels to the public from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; entry is on the ground floor of Heelan Hall. Admission is $2 for adults and children age 8 and older. Children 7 and younger will be admitted free.
Sioux City Community Theatre, 1401 Riverside Blvd., will host Tristan Christ's presentation of "Illusions of Reality" at 1 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. today and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The theater will host Spooktacular, a family-friendly event that is free to the public, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The event includes carnival games, face painting, Halloween crafts and skits and balloon art. Punch-cards are available for $5 or $10 to participate in activities. Lunch and dinner are available during the event. A costume contest for all ages will be at 4 p.m. Tickets for "Illusions of Reality" are $5 for matinees and $10 for evening shows. Children 3 and younger get in free.
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Yeah Right wrote on Oct 31, 2008 10:12 PM: