Sheriff Issues Halloween Trick or Treat Safety Advisory

Gallipolis – Gallia County Sheriff Joe Browning has issued safety tips for parents and children

during the Halloween trick-or-treat activities scheduled for Thursday October 29, 2009 in

Gallia County.           General safety tips from the Sheriff:

Vehicles:             · Please keep your speed down in the residential areas, as there will be an

                                 increase is pedestrian & vehicle traffic. The posted speed limit in a residential

                                 area is 25 mph.

                              ·  If you are traveling from neighborhood to neighborhood, please have passengers

                                 exit the vehicle on the curbside only to decrease their chances of being hit by

                                 passing vehicles.

                              ·  Keep distractions, such as cell phones and radios to a minimum.  Inattentiveness

                                 is the leading cause of accidents.

Treats:                  Warn children not to eat any treats until a parent or trusted adult has carefully

                                examined the candy for evidence of tampering.

Costumes:           When purchasing a Halloween Costume, masks, beards, wigs, look for the label

                                FLAME RESISTANT. Although this label does not mean these items will not catch

                                fire, it does indicate the items will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once

                                removed from the ignition source. To minimize risk of contact with candles or other

                                sources of ignition, avoid costumes made of flimsy materials and outfits with big,

                                baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.

Costume Designs:    Purchase or make costumes that are light & bright enough to be clearly

                                        visible to motorists.

General Safety Tips:    ·  For greater visibility during dusk & 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 good stores.

                                           ·  To easily see & be seen, children should also carry flashlights or glow sticks.

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

                                           ·  Children should wear well-fitting shoes. Some costume or parent’s shoes are

                                              not a good idea for safe walking.

                                           ·   Hats & scarves should be tied securely to prevent them from slipping over the

                                               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, 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. Above all else please be safe and keep apparent or trusted adult with

                                               the children at all times.

   The trick or treat times as set by the local Village officials of 5:30PM – 6:30PM  Sheriff’s Deputies

and Auxiliary members will be handing out candy in the following areas:

                                                            Centenary (SR 141 near the Gas Station)

Spring Valley Plaza (Jackson Pike)

Village of Crown City (fire station)

                                                            Village of Vinton (Town Hall)

                                                            Mercerville Store on SR 218

                                                            Bidwell (Post Office on 554)

                                                            Gallia (Fire Station)

                                                            Gallia Co. Courthouse (front steps)

   Sheriff Browning is scheduling extra deputies to patrol the counties 15 township during the Halloween

weekend, as a part of the Federal overtime traffic safety grant. Deputies paid overtime to patrol the

reduced speed zone areas will also respond to any calls for service in their assigned patrol areas. Citizens

should call the Office Dispatch at 446-1221 to report any suspicious activity.