With Halloween around the corner, there is an infinite number of ways to have fun…and get into a mess.
Campus Police have provided the following safety guidelines for those partaking in Halloween activities this year:
- Stay together in groups with close friends you trust 100%. Do not leave drinks, alcoholic or not, unattended, do not have open containers in public and have a designated driver who has not consumed ANY alcohol.
- If walking, travel the most lit and most traveled areas. Use the Police Departments Safety Escorts if needed, and have your cell phone with you at all times with the Police Department’s number, (937)775-2111, auto- programmed in the phone and on speed dial. Report suspicious activity immediately.
- When choosing a costume, think safety: If you wear a mask, take it off while crossing streets or going into stores, and always make sure it does not obstruct vision. Remember that, although pranks are fun, many will have corresponding criminal repercussions.
-For those who will be driving: be aware of other drivers that may be drunk, and be aware of pedestrians, as many people will not take safety precautions. Anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day so you can spot children from greater distances.
-For those who live in the nearby apartments or at home: Halloween is the time of the year that people like to play pranks or vandalize, so take any items that can be damaged inside.
-For students who are taking children/siblings trick-or-treating: Use crosswalks and traffic signals to cross roads. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and choose light colored costumes to improve visibility. Choose face paint and make-up instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision, and have children carry glow sticks or flashlights in order to see better, as well as to be seen by drivers. Check treats for signs of tampering before allowing children to eat them. Candy should be thrown away if the wrapper is faded or torn, or if the candy is unwrapped.
