Rain Coming for Halloween, So Dress Appropriately and Safely

The National Weather Service forecast, as I'm sure every parent is aware by now, is for rain on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, in our neck of the woods.

Rain and possibly a thunderstorm will travel through during the day, with wind gusts as high as 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80 percent during the day and 40 percent at night, so dress accordingly.

Recommended trick or treat hours in Batavia are 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., which more or less straddles that daytime/nighttime forecast.

Here's an article about trick-or-treating ideas when the weather turns bad, courtesy of Yahoo. Some of the suggestions include finding indoor venues such like nursing homes and malls, mapping out a route and hitting the best homes by car and changing the costume to something more water-resistent, like a Little Red Riding Hood in a red waterproof poncho.

Geneva Police Chief Steve Mexin has some good advice for parents and kids for making Halloween safe and fun.

• Wear light-colored clothing or some type of reflective material for better visibility.
• Ensure costumes fit and are worn in a manner that prevents tripping.
• If children wear masks, make sure they can see clearly and their visibility is not obstructed.
• Small children should always be accompanied by an adult.
• Go out in daylight when possible and carry a flashlight for use if out after dark.
• Only give and accept wrapped candy.
• Examine all candy before allowing children to eat it.
• Carrying hard props such as swords and daggers should be avoided. Substitute hard props with foam rubber props.
• Stay within familiar neighborhoods.
• Watch for traffic.

Mexin and all the folks at the Geneva Police Department hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween.

Red Cross Offers Tips for a Safe Halloween

• Halloween’s greatest hazards aren’t vampires and villains, but falls, costume mishaps and traffic accidents, so the Red Cross is offering the following tips to help make this Halloween safe:
• Look for flame-resistant costumes.
• Plan the Trick-or-Treat route and make sure adults know where children are going. A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children as they make their way around the neighborhood.
• Make sure the Trick-or-Treaters have a flashlight. Add reflective tape to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags. Have everyone wear light-colored clothing in order to be seen.
• Visit only the homes that have a porch light on. Accept treats at the door – never go inside.
• Instead of masks, which can cover the eyes and make it hard to see, consider using face paint.
• Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic. Look both ways before crossing the street and cross only at the corner. Don’t cut across yards or use alleys. Don’t cross between parked cars.
• Be cautious around pets and any other animals.

WELCOMING GHOSTS AND GOBLINS If someone is welcoming Trick-or-Treaters at their home, they should make sure the outdoor light is on. Other safety steps include:

• Sweep leaves from the sidewalks and steps.
• Clear the porch or front yard of any obstacles that a child could trip over.
• Restrain any household pets.
• Use a glow stick instead of a candle in the jack-o-lantern to avoid a fire hazard.

LEARN WHAT TO DO People can download the free American Red Cross First Aid App. Users receive instant access to expert advice for everyday emergencies whenever and wherever they need it. Features of the app include:

• Step-by-step instructions on how to handle the most common first aid situations;
• Videos and animations that  make the skills easy to learn;
• Safety and preparedness tips; and
• Quizzes that users can take to earn badges which they can share with their friends on social media.

People can find all of the Red Cross apps in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps.