Partners for Safety wants everyone to have a safe and happy Halloween

The Calgary Partners for Safety are sharing Halloween safety tips and will be out patrolling neighbourhoods on Oct. 31 to provide safe and trusted contacts for trick-or-treaters in need. The Partners, coordinated by Calgary’s Child Magazine, include The City of Calgary, Alberta Health Services and Shaw Communications.

“Every year we are happy to come together with our colleagues in emergency and community services to ensure that Halloween is a fun and safe experience for all young costumed trick-or-treaters,” said Carol Henke, public information officer for the Calgary Fire Department.

To ensure parents and children feel safe on Halloween, more than 800 marked vehicles, including police cars, fire trucks, transit vehicles, bylaw vehicles, ambulances and Shaw TV vans, will patrol Calgary neighbourhoods from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. These vehicles will be out to provide a safe contact for any child in need of help. Trick-or-treaters can also visit local Calgary fire stations if they need help or assistance.

The Partners are also sharing important Halloween safety information with all Calgarians.

·         Choose or make Halloween costumes which allow your trick-or-treater to see clearly. Avoid costumes that
          are too loose and could choke, tangle or trip, and ensure costumes are made of bright, reflective material.

·         Parents should always find out where their trick-or-treaters are going and when they will be home.

·         Trick-or-treaters should remain in the doorway or on the doorstep, when trick-or treating.

·         Trick-or-treaters should travel in groups and avoid short cuts through alleys, lanes or private property.

·         Trick-or-treaters should only cross the street at intersections; after looking both ways to ensure it is safe
          to cross.

·         Trick-or-treaters who are out after dark should carry a flashlight to help see and be seen.

·         Parents should check all Halloween treats before children eat them.

·         And everyone who is out driving on Halloween night should remember to drive cautiously on Halloween
          night.

For more than 20 years, the Partners have been working to help keep Calgary’s young ghosts and goblins safe on Halloween. For more Halloween safety information, please visit www.calgaryschild.com.