Everyone has a role to play in making Halloween a safe night for area children.
That's the message Sarnia Police Services is conveying to residents.
Constable Nelson Amaral shared some tips in advance of children heading out trick-or-treating Tuesday night.
"We're asking that all motorists slow down," Amaral said. "Drivers need to significantly reduce their speed on Halloween and remember there will be numerous kids running across neighbourhood streets, focused on one thing, candy. So, expect an increase of pedestrian traffic on city streets and, because of the excitement of Halloween, kids may not be paying attention to vehicle traffic."
Amaral said weather conditions may reduce a driver's visibility.
He said if you're staying home, make it safe for trick-or-treaters.
"Remove all objects around your house that could cause children to trip or fall, turn your outside lights on so children know that they can visit your home and if you're not participating, we ask that you turn your outside lights off," he said.
Amaral asks that kids walk and not run from house to house.
"Avoid zig-zagging by staying on the sidewalk or at the side of the road that's facing traffic, use crosswalks whenever possible and always look both ways before crossing the road," Amaral said.
He also wants children to stay in known well lit areas, to never go inside homes or cars, and never go anywhere with a stranger.
"We're also asking if you could choose brightly coloured clothing that will be clearly visible to motorists," Amaral said. "For greater visibility, carry a flashlight and add reflective tape to your costume."
When everyone gets home, Amaral wants parents to examine the treats before children eat them.
"Throw out any treats that are not wrapped, including any in torn or loose packages, inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pin holes or tears. Throw away anything that looks suspicious," Amaral said.
Finally, he said if you do find something that has been tampered with, contact Sarnia police.
Additional safety tips are posted at sarniapolice.ca
