Public Service Announcement

WINNIPEG, MB - The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and the Winnipeg Police Service are encouraging citizens to make Halloween a safe and enjoyable occasion.

Here are some general safety tips for everyone to consider:

• Try to trick-or-treat when it is still light outside.
• Wear a bright, reflective costume made of flame-resistant material.
• Carry a flashlight, and use glow sticks, or reflective tape as part of your costume. Encourage children to stay away from open flames.
• Ensure children know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire.
• Why not use make-up instead of a mask? Masks can shift and obscure vision.
• To prevent falls, ensure costumes fit well and aren't too long and don't have too much loose material.
• Have a responsible adult go trick-or-treating with you.
• If someone older cannot go with you, trick-or-treat as a group.
• Plan your trick-or-treat route ahead of time. Pick well-lit streets.
• Stay on sidewalks, look left, right and left again to be sure no cars are approaching before crossing the street. Always cross the street at corners and crosswalks; never cross between parked cars or in the middle of the block.
• If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
• Never enter the home of a stranger.
• Discuss with your children the route they will be travelling and what time they are required to return home.
• Only eat treats that have been examined by your parents.
• Choking occurs most frequently among children under two years of age, but can happen at any age. Eating while playing, running, jumping, or talking increases the likelihood of choking.
• ATTENTION DRIVERS! Children will be very excited and their actions could be sudden and unpredictable. Exercise caution and Just Slow Down.

Your home for Halloween:

• Make sure your home is well lit, your yard clear and safe, and pets are secured so no harm comes to them or the children.
• Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.
• It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candles in a Jack-o-lantern. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. Make sure children are supervised when candles are lit.
• Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn and far enough out of the way of trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, walkways and yards.
• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
• Children should not use knives or other sharp instruments to carve pumpkins.

A safe and happy Halloween to everyone!