Police offer advice for safe Halloween

Friday evening, another frenzy of costumed, candy-crazed children will frolic through the neighborhood for the time-honored treat gathering tradition.

Trick-or-treating will take place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Halloween night throughout the city of Dowagiac. With hundreds of local kids and teenagers expected to roam the streets that evening, it is important that children, parents and other members of the community take a number of precautions to ensure that it remains a safe, enjoyable evening for everyone, said Director of Public Safety Steven Grinnewald.

“For kids, this is a time of year where they’re thinking of one thing, and one thing only, and that’s having fun,” Grinnewald said. “The biggest thing we want them to do, though, is to check their surroundings and look out for traffic.”

This advice applies to adults driving on the roads that evening as well, especially in neighborhoods adjacent to the four churches where Trunk or Treat will be taking place. Drivers should make sure to drive slowly, and pay extra attention to what is going on in the streets around them.

“You should anticipate for kids to step in front your vehicle, expect them to not be looking for you,” Grinnewald said. “They’re not focusing on you, they’re focusing on getting to the next house.”

Children are also encouraged to travel together in groups. While its OK for a group of two or three siblings to travel together, Grinnewald said the more company, the better.

“In our world, it’s not beyond the possibility that someone wants to harm a kid, and they want to pick on the easiest target,” the police chief warned. “People also have an easier time seeing a group than someone by themself.”

If possible, at least one parent should accompany a group, regardless of the kids’ ages. Kids should also consider wearing masks that allow them to retain most of their peripheral vision, and the outfits should be a visible in the
dark as possible.

“Unfortunately, most kids don’t think of a Dracula costume having a lightly colored cape, or a Frankenstein one with reflective tape on it,” Grinnewald said.

With only one hour of time scheduled, parents should plan on taking their children to just a single neighborhood, preferably the one they live on and have the most familiarity with. Kids should only approach houses with porch lights on, as many residents don’t hand out treats during the evening. Kids should also check the treats they receive before eating them.

“If it’s something from someone you don’t know and it’s not wrapped, you probably shouldn’t eat it,” Grinnewald said.