The North Bay Police Service is providing safety tips for trick-or-treaters, parents, and adults to help keep Halloween night fun, spooky, and safe. The North Bay Police Service will also be handing out goody bags to trick-or-treaters who visit the police headquarters.

SAFETY TIPS

For Trick-or-Treaters & Parents:

• Parents should accompany their children while trick-or-treating until children are old enough to travel in groups with friends. If your children are trick-or-treating without a parent present, make sure there is a travel route and curfew time in place.
• Trick-or-treaters should avoid long, flowing costumes that could cause them to trip. Make sure costumes are brightly coloured and consider adding reflective strips to costumes to increase visibility.
• Avoid wearing masks or decorative glasses that restrict or block vision.
• Trick-or-treaters should look both ways before crossing the street and only cross at designated crosswalks.
• Trick-or-treaters should only travel through well-lit areas and only visit houses with lights on. Never go inside a home or inside someone’s car.
• Always examine your children’s treats before they eat them. Dispose of any treats that appear to have damaged or open packaging. Avoid eating homemade treats from strangers as it can be difficult to ensure they are safe.
• Motorists should be conscious of the increased number of pedestrians out and about on Halloween night. Children can be unpredictable and may enter roadways in an unsafe manner. Be extra vigilant when driving on Halloween night and watch out for trick-or-treaters.

For Adults:

• If you are attending a Halloween party, make sure you keep your drink with you and in clear view at all times. Do not accept a drink from someone unless you saw it being made.
• Always drive sober. Make sure you have a designated driver or call a taxi or rideshare to keep yourself, pedestrians, and others on the road safe.

For Everyone:

• Remember that garlic wards off vampires, silver scares away werewolves, and to stay safe from zombies you just need to walk slightly faster than they can shuffle towards you.

Trick-or-Treating at NBPS

The North Bay Police Service will have goody bags available for trick-or-treaters who visit the North Bay Police Service after 5:00 p.m. on Halloween. Kids will be able to check out a police cruiser and visit with Chewie, who is the Trauma Support Dog with Victim Services of Nipissing District. Goody bags will be available from 5:00 p.m. until supplies run out.

“Happy Halloween to everyone taking part this year,” said Jeff Warner, Inspector of Operations for the North Bay Police Service. “I hope everyone has an enjoyable night, gets lots of candy, and follows appropriate safety guidelines to keep themselves and others safe.”

Additional Halloween safety information can be found at Health Canada’s website at this link: www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/home-safety/halloween-safety.html