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Show Plan for safe Halloween Tomorrow evening hundreds of local children will take to the streets in that unique form of blackmail known as "Trick or Treat" - not that any of the youngsters who will be out on our streets would trick anyone for not delivering the goods. That we still feel comfortable letting our children go from door to door, dressed in bizzare costumes and begging from strangers, makes a strong statement about the relative peace that makes our hometown different from the crime-ridden neighborhoods in other parts of our country. It is a strong statement of trust in our neighbors and our kids. Despite that trust, there is still a need for caution. Recent events in Salt Lake City tend to chip away at that trust we have so carefully fostered, and upon which we rely for a safe Halloween. In order to make the Halloween as safe as possible, we offer the following tips : -Make children's costumes with safety in mind. Children should be able to see clearly and costumes should be made of flame resistant material. --Dark costumes should be decorated with reflective tape that will tip off a driver that there is someone in the road ahead. --Accessories to a costume should be safe. Avoid sharp objects, such as knives and swords. --Trick or treat only in neighborhoods that are familiar. -Lay out your route before trick or treating, and stick to the plan. Include a designated return time. -Stay out of the street. Walk on the sidewalk where there is on, or on the left side of the road facing traffic, if there is none. -Make sure smaller children are accompanied by an older child or an adult. -Give children flashlights to help them avoid obstacles ob-stacles in the dark. -Make sure children only go to homes where residents have outside lights on as a sign of welcome. For those receiving trick or treaters, remove anything that could be an obstacle from steps, lawns and porches. And give treats the children can feel comfortable accepting. Halloween is one of the highlights of the year for small children. Making the holiday safe and enjoyable will help to make sure that children aren't haunted by an unhappy Halloween experience. |