Greensburg, In. — Miniature witches, goblins, ghosts and more will be descending upon our community in the coming week, and it is important we keep them safe. There are several tips and tricks that the Indiana State Police has provided to help ensure everyone has a safe and fun Halloween.
Take precautions and keep safety in mind when picking out or creating that perfect costume for your trick-or-treater. To prevent scrapes and bruises, make sure costumes are not too big or too long, and avoid masks if possible. Masks can obstruct a child’s vision and make it difficult for them to cross the street or go up and down steps. Instead, try face paint or makeup.
Consider using reflective tape or choosing bright colors on costumes to ensure kids are visible at night. Glow sticks and flashlights are also excellent ways to help drivers spot pedestrians.
When trick-or-treating, make sure older kids use the buddy system, or if they are young, have an adult accompany them. Never let kids trick-or-treat alone. Before heading out, have a conversation with your child about only stopping at familiar houses with the outside lights on, and remind them to never enter the homes or cars of strangers.
Ask your youngsters to hold off on eating their treats. Have them wait until they are home, so candy can be inspected in a well-lit area. If a piece of candy is open, throw it out. Fruits and other unwrapped treats should also be inspected for anything suspicious before eating.
Drivers should be breaking for ghouls, princesses and superheroes on Halloween. In residential neighborhoods, slow down and be alert. Avoid distractions and concentrate on the road, and headlights should be turned on earlier in the evening to help spot children. Likewise, make sure children always look both ways before crossing the street and look out for cars. They should always cross the street at corners, use crosswalks and follow traffic signals.
While some of these tips may seem obvious, it’s always a good idea to refresh everyone’s memory to help prevent accidents or dangerous situations.
Trick-or-treating hours will vary in every town. Greensburg will be hosting trick-or-treaters from 5-8 p.m., and kids can trick-or-treat in Versailles from 5-7 p.m. on Halloween. Rising Sun will have trick-or-treat hours on Halloween from 6-8 p.m.
There are also plenty of other activities you can attend on Halloween. Versailles will be hosting a parade and costume contest on the square at 7 p.m., and Rising Sun Main Street is coordinating a parade at 5 p.m. starting at the corner of Main and Walnut streets. The town of Patriot will have a trunk-or-treat from 6-9 p.m. at the intersection of Indiana highways 156 and 250, and Vevay will be putting on their trunk-or-treat from 6-8 p.m. at Riverview Baptist Church.
Use these tips and tricks to ensure a spooktacular evening of fun and treats with your family. I hope everyone has a happy Halloween, and I look forward to spending it with our community and seeing all the great costumes.
