A few weeks ago we introduced some safety concepts for parents to consider as they looked at costumes for the little trick or treater in the family. So now with just seven days left until one of the most popular children's holidays of the year we thought it would be timely to throw out a few safety reminders before you head out to fill that orange plastic bucket with sugary goodness.
First is that safety is found in numbers. It's not all about the big kids jumping out of the bushes and taking your candy either, being a part of a large group of people makes it easier to be seen by drivers. If a big group of trick or treaters is in store for you it's also appropriate to have established rules that the kids must follow and adequete adult supervision to help keep the excited kids safely together and not let their excitement get too out of hand.
Second would be how important it is to be seen. Halloween falls at the time of year where the precious daylight is getting shorter and most trick or treaters are hitting the neighborhoods around that difficult to see dusk hour where it's not quite dark enough for headlights to work effectively. Hang a glow stick, or attach reflective tape to their costumes, and make sure they are carrying a flashlight that is on at all times. As part of our "Be Seen at Halloween Campaign" the Forest Grove Firefighters and Police Officers Labor Unions have teamed with Forest Grove's Volunteer Firefighters to provide glow sticks to trick or treaters and we will be in downtown handing them out until we run out on Halloween night - once you get yours snap it and hang it around your neck.
Third would be safety on or near the roads. Try and choose routes that have sidewalks or a good safe area for the children to walk. Make sure that your trick or treaters watch for cars and that they stop and look both ways before crossing the street and always follow pedestrian laws. For driver's it's equally important to pay extra attention during your commute home on Halloween evening. Downtown Forest Grove has an annual "Trick or Treat your Merchants Event" that draws thousands of kids to the downtown area over a period of just a few hours, this is great for the kids but it is also something that driver's should plan accordingly for and avoid the area if at all possible.
Don't forget to trick or treat our Forest Grove Fire Station and have a safe and happy Halloween!
An inside look at your fire department. Sharing our operations with you and your feedback with us all in an effort to work better in service to our community. Career and Volunteer Firefighters from Forest Grove and Cornelius provide fire, rescue, and emergency medical response, as well as fire prevention and life safety education services to the residents of the Cities of Forest Grove and Cornelius, and the surrounding rural communities in beautiful western Washington County.
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