Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reminds residents to be especially careful during evening hours Oct. 31. Young people will be out celebrating Halloween or Harvest Fest. Parents are urged to follow safety tips:
Face paint is safer than a mask – and fun! If your child wears a mask, make sure it has adequate respiration holes and peripheral vision.
Trick-or-treaters should wear reflective clothing; carry a bright orange bag, a flashlight or glow stick; walk on sidewalks or left sides of roads facing traffic.
Adults should always accompany young children and should stay within close range and never let children go down a street alone. Walk with children to each house and wait in driveways or by doors.
Older children should always travel in pairs/groups – they should never venture down dark, empty streets; let parents know their route; always walk together to each front door; never run across yards or streets.
Never go to the door of a house that seems unoccupied or has no outside lights on. Children should save all candy until they get home. Parents should closely inspect candy and throw away unwrapped or opened candy or suspicious-looking goodies. If your child becomes ill, call your doctor or emergency room immediately. Try to determine what the child has eaten and where it came from. Save all wrappers.
Avoid fire hazards: remember – jack-o-lanterns and electrical decorations can be hazardous. Keep them out of reach of small children and away from flammable materials. Never leave your house unattended: an empty house on Halloween is an invitation to trouble. If you leave home, lock doors.
Sheriff Smith said that causing mischief and damaging or defacing other people’s property will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Call 911 to report emergencies. For non-emergency calls, Putnam County citizens should call the sheriff’s office: 225-4300 or 265-9551.
