LIMA — Several area organizations are offering tips on how to have a fun, but safe, trick-or-treat.
Whether it’s costume safety for your trick-or-treaters or tips on how to be more alert behind the wheel, this list with the help of Mercy Health-St. Rita’s Medical Center and the Lima-Allen County Safe Community Coalition has you covered.
Costume safety tips
• Use reflective tape or stickers on costumes and bags to be easily spotted.
• Choose light colors, if possible.
• Utilize face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct vision.
• Have accurate sizing in costumes to avoid trips and falls.
“Children should not trick-or-treat far from home and especially not alone. Please trick-or-treat in groups and stay together,” advised Brian Anderson, Injury Prevention and Outreach Coordinator of Mercy Health-St. Rita’s Medical Center. “Children are excited on Halloween, which may lead to unsafe actions. Make sure a responsible adult stays with your child while out and about.”
Walking safety tips
• Cross streets at corners, traffic signals or crosswalks. Make eye contact with drivers prior to crossing if needed.
• Be alert and keep heads up when walking.
• Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If none are available, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
Driver safety tips
• Slow down and be alert, especially in residential neighborhoods. Popular trick-or-treat times are between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m.
• Take extra time to check intersections, medians, curbs, driveways and alleys.
• Turn on headlights earlier to help spot children from greater distances.
• Plan a safe way home before festivities begin or designate a non-drinking driver.
• If impaired, use a taxi or public transportation, or call a sober friend or family member.
• Contact law enforcement if you see a drunk driver.
Evelyn Smith of the Lima-Allen County Safe Community Coalition reminded us that a safe trick-or-treat doesn’t just fall on the kids.
“There isn’t a Halloween costume clever enough to hide an impaired driver who has made the poor decision to get behind the wheel,” Smith said. “Whether you’ve had one too many — or way too many — it is just not worth the risk. Remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
The Lima Police Department will once again be out at fixed stations throughout the city’s trick-or-treat, which is from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday hosting its photo contest. Officers will be stationed at the outpost at St. Marks United Methodist Church, North Park Community Church, and at the intersections of Jefferson and McKibben streets and Lakewood and Woodlawn streets.
Trick-or-treat listings can be found at www.limaohio.com.
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