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Smiths Falls Police are encouraging families to enjoy Halloween while keeping a few simple safety habits in mind as children head out trick-or-treating Saturday night.
Const. Sean Keoghan says the community already showed it knows how to celebrate safely, pointing to the strong turnout at the recent downtown Skele-bration.
Halloween night brings a different environment, however, with darkness, traffic and excited children moving between homes.
Keoghan says visibility should be considered when choosing or preparing costumes.
Flashlights, reflective bags or other visible accessories can help without taking away from a child’s costume.
Parents can also make the evening easier by knowing where they are going before everyone heads out.
Keoghan says drivers also have an important role.
Children may suddenly cross a road when they spot friends, decorations or another house to visit, so motorists are being asked to slow down and leave extra time to reach their destination.
Cyclists should make sure their lights are on.
Homeowners can help by keeping the path to their door well lit and clear of hazards, even if the rest of the property is decorated for Halloween.
Police are also reminding families that repeated doorbells and visitors can upset pets, another reason for homeowners to think ahead.
Keoghan says the goal isn’t to take any fun out of Halloween.
It’s simply to make sure the ghosts, superheroes and monsters filling Smiths Falls streets all make it home safely with their candy at the end of the night.
