Halloween: make it fun and safe

Snow White took the apple from the stranger but Powell children should not.

With Halloween night on the horizon, children are bouncing off the walls with excitement. And why not? The pumpkin carving, the costumes, the spooky decorations and the loot at the end of a rousing night of trick-or-treating —candy.

While the kids are unable to contain themselves some parents are fretting about the fear of poisoned apples or, on the less scary side, a sugar-rush tummy ache.

"Some basic parental oversight will go a long way," said Powell Police Chief Tim Feathers.

The Nebraska Regional Poison Center (NRPC) offers several pieces of advice to parents seeking a spooky night of Halloween fun, ranging from nighttime precautions to how to deal with the fear of getting candy from strangers, as well as safe alternatives.

Halloween seems to be one of the only exceptions to kids not being let out of the house at night. Arming a child with a flashlight and some good traffic know-how are some of the best tools available. If a child is going trick-or-treating, they should be with an adult and a flashlight.

Feathers added parents should remind their older children of basic pedestrian safety. He emphasized the use of crosswalks and intersections instead of crossing mid-block. If children are old enough the go it alone or with friends, then it is advised they stay in their own neighborhood. But in a town the size of Powell a neighborhood isn't easily defined. In that instance the community has different organized events that can replace the door-to-door type of trick-or-treating.

Flashlights are the standard for night visibility since lanterns went out of fashion. There are hip light alternatives like glow sticks, but with anything hip, there are precautions. The NRPC warns that the liquid inside can cause burning and stinging if it comes into contact with eyes or the mouth. Parents are advised to keep glow sticks out of the hands of small children who might put them in their mouths.

Feathers said the level of patrol in town would be the same as usual.

"We will be placing emphasis on pedestrian safety," he said. "Drivers need to be aware and alert.”

Also if a child is wearing a mask, NRPC recommends that they allow for good visibility and breathing and should be removed when crossing streets. They also suggest that non-toxic face paint is a good alternative. Other aspects of the night cause concern namely the weather — this is Wyoming, after all. For that reason, costumes should be warm and well-fitting. Feathers added that costumes should be light in color or offer some sort of reflection.

Before sending the tikes to plunder the peasants, children should get in a full meal according to the NRPC this will help keep the paws off the candy until the treaters return home.

This also allows for more time to find those treats the kids should avoid. According to the poison center and most moms all treats should be inspected before snacking.
Homemade treats and unwrapped treats are a monstrous no. Other prizes can be given away as well lie pencils and party favor like items.

The alternatives to a night of trick-or-treating are endless. The NRPC suggests holding block parties. While those may be more popular in larger areas, Powell still has alternatives to offer.

High school students are invited to a dance at the Powell VFW, Southside elementary school offers a treat corral and local churches are hosting the Harvest at The Commons.
In addition to evening activities, downtown merchants will host trick-or-treating in the late afternoon.