Staying safe on Halloween night

Tuesday will be a busy exciting night for many kids and parents who will take to the streets in costumes for Halloween trick-or-treating.  Montreal police and firefighters are reminding citizens to take a few proactive measures to ensure everyone is staying safe while having fun. One of the most important things to remember, they say, is to stay visible while you’re out on the street in the dark.

“If you’re not wearing clear coloured clothes, you can hold a flashlight or have some reflective signs on you that will make you seen by motorists,” said Jeanne Drouin, spokesperson, Montreal police (SPVM).

The SPVM also recommends trick-or-treating on one side of the street at a time, to avoid crossing the street where you’re not supposed to.

“You should walk one way of the road and cross only at the intersection to then do the other side of the road. And, we want to remind drivers to be aware of those young people out there,” Drouin added.

The Montreal fire department is also recommending not to use candles in pumpkins in order to avoid fire accidents.

“We strongly recommend that people use LED lights with batteries, they have the same effect, that would be a smart move to do,” said Robert Rousseau, a spokesperson with the Montreal fire department.

“You might want to look at decorations, keep them away from open flames or heat sources that would ignite them with fire,” he added.

The fire department is also reminding parents to stay aware of your surroundings and what’s cooking on the stove, with the distractions that can come with Halloween excitement and trick-or-treaters knocking at your door.

They also remind those hosting haunted houses to make sure to leave all fire exits clear so guests can evacuate safely in case of fire.

The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), has also issued some safety tips as reminders for kids and parents:

For kids:

• Wear make-up instead of a mask.
• Let your parents know where you’re going and when you’ll be back.
• Ring doorbells as a group or with an adult, and wait outside houses.
• Don’t approach or get into vehicles without your parents’ permission.
• Check your treats with your parents to make sure it’s safe to eat them.

For accompanying adults and drivers:

• Avoid driving on Halloween night, if possible.
• Children may find it difficult to judge the distance and speed of vehicles, especially in the dark.
• When driving, be vigilant: slow down and anticipate the presence of enthusiastic and unpredictable children on the road.
• Be patient and courteous with pedestrians and other motorists.
• Don’t forget that children are all excited, not to say frenzied, at the idea of wandering the streets to collect the coveted treats. Let’s make sure they can do so safely.