Stay safe this Halloween

Students in some classrooms at Thomas Magnet School, like those seen here from Ashley Kilburn's fourth grade class, dressed in costume today -- but, rather than spooky characters, the costumes were meant to illustrate vocabulary words like "ecosystem." Inventive homemade costumes can be a safe alternative for the Halloween season. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"We're going to have some extra patrols, some more people on duty," said Bedford County Sheriff Randall Boyce. "Including myself."

With the trick or treat evening falling on a weekend, the likelihood for mischief increases.

"I think it's a little bit more of a problem when it's on a weekend," said Boyce. "But we've been pretty lucky in the last year or two; it hasn't been too bad."

In the years when Halloween falls on a weekday, he said, the mischief tends to spread itself out over the week.

"We don't expect any problems," he said. "We just want to beef it up a little to keep trouble from happening."

While most of the "mischief" tends to run along the lines of egging cars and "rolling" yards, some can be dangerous. For instance, said Boyce, if he had a black cat, "I'd keep it up for the night."

Drivers need to be aware that there will be children out trick or treating and the trick or treaters need to be aware of the traffic.

"A lot of them have dark costumes and kids will run out into the road," said Boyce. "Parents need to really stay with them."

Safety Tips

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers some safety tips:

* Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has carefully examined them for evidence of tampering.

* When purchasing a costume, masks, beards, and wigs, look for the label Flame Resistant. Although this label does not mean these items won't catch fire, it does indicate the items will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once removed from the ignition source. To minimize the risk of contact with candles or other sources of ignition, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.

* Purchase or make costumes that are light and bright enough to be clearly visible to motorists.

* For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's headlights. Bags or sacks should also be light colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle, and sporting goods stores.

* To easily see and be seen, children should also carry flashlights.

* Costumes should be short enough to prevent children from tripping and falling.

* Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes . Mother's high heels are not a good idea for safe walking.

* Hats and scarfs should be tied securely to prevent them from slipping over children's eyes.

* Apply a natural mask of cosmetics rather than have a child wear a loose-fitting mask that might restrict breathing or obscure vision. If a mask is used, however, make sure it fits securely and has eyeholes large enough to allow full vision.

* Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be of soft and flexible material.

* Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or an older, responsible child. All children should WALK, not run from house to house and use the sidewalk if available, rather than walk in the street. Children should be cautioned against running out from between parked cars, or across lawns and yards where ornaments, furniture, or clotheslines present dangers.

* Children should go only to homes where the residents are known and have outside lights on as a sign of welcome. Children should not enter homes or apartments unless they are accompanied by an adult.

* People expecting trick-or-treaters should remove anything that could be an obstacle from lawns, steps and porches. Candlelit jack-o'-lanterns should be kept away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame. Indoor jack-o'-lanterns should be kept away from curtains, decorations, and other furnishings that could be ignited.