Halloween will be a day filled with knife-obsessed maniacs, Lovecraftian monsters, demon beasts and slutty nurses, so being careful is a must. University Police, the Muncie Police Department and the American Red Cross give students advice on how to stay safe while having fun.
TRAVEL
-Do not travel alone
-Let your roommate(s) know what time you will be back
-Cross only at corners (never cross the street between parked vehicles or in the middle of the block)
-If there is no sidewalk, walk facing the oncoming traffic
-Don't cut across yards or use alleys. Don't cross between parked cars
"There isn't anything different on Halloween than any other weekend," Gene Burton, director of public safety at Ball State University, said
COSTUMES
"When you dress up and you're going someplace, the kind of costume you're in could affect how you get somewhere," Burton said. In other words, trying to outrun a Freddy-fan in a Humpty Dumpty costume only makes hunting you down that much more fun.
-A face mask will keep you from seeing well (take off your mask before you cross a street)
-Wear a costume that makes it easy for you to walk, see and be seen
-Use light-reflective tape on your costume (so people driving vehicles can see you)
-If you must go out at night, make certain that your costume is light in color and/or in some manner light-reflective
-Consider using makeup instead of a mask
HEALTH
-If you have children who are sick, keep them quarantined. This will be disappointing to your young one, but your neighbors and community are counting on you to hold the line on transmission.
-Remind children to keep their hands away from their eyes, nose and mouth to keep germs away. Carry hand sanitizer with you or have it near your candy dispensing area.
-If you are giving out candy, hand it out or scoop it. Instead of a bowl of candy, consider handing out small, individually wrapped bags of treats.
-Throw away any unwrapped candy and inspect the rest for choking hazards and tampering.
"We don't want anyone to go out trick-or-treating and come home sick," Sharon Stanley, chief nurse of the American Red Cross, said.
FIRE
Indiana State Fire Marshal Jim Greeson offers some tips to make sure things don't get too hot.
-Make sure costumes are labeled as flame-retardant
-Use a glow stick instead of a candle in your jack-o-lantern to avoid a fire hazard.
-Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep these and other decorations away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.
-Use flashlights as alternatives to candles or torch lights when decorating walkways and yards. They are much safer for trick-or-treaters, whose costumes may brush against the lighting.
-Remember "Stop, drop and roll."
FUN HOUSES
-Make sure the attraction has been inspected. If a sticker indicating inspection is not visible, ask the owner to see a copy.
-Ensure there are enough lights around doorways, walkways and any figures in the attraction.
-Locate all exits before entering; all exits should be clearly marked.
-Do not run. Follow any direction the operator of the attraction gives you.
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