Halloween Safety Advisory
Date:
10/11/2010Summary:
Please remember there will be heavy vehicle & pedestrian traffic in most Yuma neighborhoods on Halloween. The Yuma Police Department will have additional officers on patrol dedicated to traffic enforcement and pedestrian safety.Contact:
Halloween is coming up, so please remember there will be heavy vehicle & pedestrian traffic in most Yuma neighborhoods. The Yuma Police Department will have additional officers on patrol dedicated to traffic enforcement and pedestrian safety in residential neighborhoods on Halloween Night.
Police Chief Jerry Geier said, "I encourage parents to revisit general Halloween safety rules with their children. I too am a parent and want all the kids to have a happy and safe Halloween."
Halloween Safety Tips
The Yuma Police Department would like to offer the community some general Halloween Safety Tips.
Vehicles
- Please keep your speed down in the residential areas, as there will be an increase is pedestrian & vehicle traffic. The posted speed limit in a residential area is 25 mph.
- If you are traveling from neighborhood to neighborhood, please have passengers exit the vehicle on the curbside only to decrease their chances of being hit by passing vehicles.
- Keep distractions, such as cell phones and radios to a minimum. Inattentiveness is the leading cause of accidents.
Treats
Warn children not to eat any treats until a parent or trusted adult has carefully examined the candy for evidence of tampering.
Costumes
When purchasing a Halloween Costume, masks, beards, wigs, look for the label FLAME RESISTANT. Although this label does not mean these items will not catch fire, it does indicate the items will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once removed from the ignition source. To minimize risk of contact with candles or other sources of ignition, avoid costumes made of flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.
Costume Designs
Purchase or make costumes that are light & bright enough to be clearly visible to motorists.
General Safety Tips
- For greater visibility during dusk & darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights. Bags or sacks should also be light colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle, and sporting good stores.
- To easily see & be seen, children should also carry flashlights or glow sticks.
- Costumes should be short enough to prevent children from tripping and falling.
- Children should wear well-fitting shoes. Some costume or parent’s shoes are not a good idea for safe walking.
- Hats & scarf’s should be tied securely to prevent them from slipping over the children’s eyes.
Apply a natural mask of cosmetics rather than have a child wear a loose-fitting mask that might restrict breathing or obscure vision. If a mask is used, make sure it fits securely and has eyeholes large enough to allow full vision. - Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be of soft and flexible material.
Have a safe and happy Halloween.
