Las Vegas City Wire

With Halloween coming up next week, Clark County is hosting several fun events at community parks and recreation centers and also is offering safety tips as part of its annual trick or treater awareness campaign.

Through Monday, Oct. 31, several Halloween events are being hosted at County facilities including movie nights, trick or treating events, and festivals. A complete listing is on the Halloween events page on the Clark County Parks and Recreation Department’s website at www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/parks. The website also has information about the County’s “Inside by 9” campaign, which encourages trick or treating in neighborhoods to wrap up by 9 p.m. Safety tips in English and Spanish for motorists and pedestrians are offered on the website page in addition to links to TV PSAs.

“We want everyone to have a fun and safe Halloween, but it can be a dangerous holiday night for children,” said Clark County Commission Chairman Jim Gibson. “Pedestrians and motorists alike need to be aware of their surroundings when trick or treaters are out and about on sidewalks and crossing streets. We suggest families finish trick or treating festivities in neighborhoods by 9 p.m. to encourage pedestrian safety.”

Officials recommend that adults always escort trick or treaters. Trick or treaters also should wear some type of reflective clothing or carry a source of light to increase their visibility. Other suggestions include:

Motorist Halloween Safety Tips

• Drive slowly, especially in residential neighborhoods, and be prepared to stop when children are present; know that dark costumes may present a visual challenge for you as you drive.
• Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and curbs, and around corners. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unexpected ways.
• Avoid activities that distract your attention while driving such as talking on your cell phone or eating.
• Be very cautious turning into driveways and backing out, especially where hedges and bushes may block your vision.
• Watch for pets that may be running loose.

Trick or Treaters & Neighborhood Safety

• Never trick or treat alone. Young children should always go trick or treating with an adult.
• All children should walk, not run, from house to house, and use sidewalks, not roads. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
• It’s best to trick-or-treat in familiar neighborhoods with well-lit streets.
• Wear costumes that allow you to be seen by drivers. Choose bright or light-colored clothing; decorate bags and costumes with reflective tape or stickers.
• Use face paint rather than masks or things that will cover your eyes. Costumes should be made of fire-resistant materials; avoid costumes with long, trailing fabric.
• Carry a cell phone with you and light your way with a flashlight.
• Cross the street safely at corners using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look both ways before you cross and keep looking as you walk.
• Watch out for cars that are turning or backing up; don’t dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars.
• Only visit homes that have the porch light on.
• Accept your treats only at the door, and never go into a stranger’s house.
• Beware of jack-o-lanterns lit with candles, which are a fire hazard. It’s safer for households to use battery-operated candles or glow-sticks in jack-o-lanterns.
• Have grownups inspect your candy before eating. Don’t eat candy if the package is already opened. Small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.

Original source can be found here.