Ecole Phoenix Middle School leadership students assisted the Campbell River RCMP with putting together over 400 loot bags.
The loot bags will be distributed by police officers on Halloween to trick or treaters in various neighborhoods. McDonalds provided coupons for each of the loot bags. Also, Campbell River Crime Stoppers supplied slap bracelets and glow sticks for each of the loot bags.
'Tis the season for ghosts and ghouls.
But beware, with Halloween tonight, the safety of our children should be foremost in people’s minds.
Campbell River RCMP urge everyone to keep these useful safety tips in mind before heading out for your Halloween festivities.
Have fun but keep safe.
- Never trick-or-treat alone. Always walk with an adult or a group of friends.
- Make sure you can be seen. Wear reflective, bright color costumes, or fasten reflective tape to your costume or bag.
- Carry a flashlight so you can see where you are going.
- Walk, don’t run.
- Stay in familiar neighborhoods.
- Don’t cut across yards or driveways.
- Make sure your costume doesn’t drag on the ground so you don’t trip and wear comfortable shoes.
- Wear makeup instead of a mask. This will allow you to see and be aware of everything going on around you while walking house to house.
- Obey traffic signals and give traffic the right of way.
- Only approach houses that have the outside lights turned on.
- Stay away from and don’t pet animals you don’t know.
- Never enter a stranger’s home or car for a treat.
- Don’t eat any treats until an adult has inspected them
- Don’t crisscross the street or run out from between parked cars. Always go down one side of the street, cross at the corner and then the other side.
- Watch out for cars pulling out of driveways and backing up.
- Remember; Stranger = Danger.
Keep your pets in mind during Halloween
The BC SPCA offers these Halloween safety tips:
- Keep pets inside
Pets who are inside have fewer opportunities to confront trick-or-treaters. Some pets do well left in a separate room with the radio or television on to mask the sound of fireworks and trick-or-treaters. Be sure to leave plenty of toys in the room for your pet so that he doesn’t think he’s being isolated as a punishment. If your pet finds the doorbell disturbing, consider disconnecting the doorbell for the night.
- Identification
Make sure your pet is wearing identification. Dogs and cats may try to run away if they feel threatened.
- Don’t console your anxious pet
While it is natural to want to comfort your pet, it is better to use a bright, cheerful voice to send a message that things are fine. Avoid saying things like, “it’s OK” or “don’t be scared” in a soft or sympathetic voice. This only reinforces your pet’s fearful behaviour.
- Candy is for people
Candy can lead to health problems such as diabetes or obesity, and chocolate is especially dangerous because it contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs and cats. Keep treats well away from your pets.
- Leave home without them
If you think it would be fun to bring your pet trick-or-treating, your pet may not share your view. The strange sights and sounds of Halloween can cause a normally friendly dog to bite if it feels scared or threatened.
Tips for drivers:
Halloween means that there will be more children out on the streets. Drivers need to take extra care.
- Drive slowly in residential areas were there are children.
- Watch out for kids, many may be wearing costumes with masks that make it difficult for them to see.
- Reduce your distractions and stay alert
- Enter and exit intersections and driveways slowly and carefully.