The great fear of issuing warnings is that those who need the warning won’t see it.
Which brings us to Halloween.
We think there’s more to consider this year when reveling in, perhaps, America’s oddest holiday.
First, some tips for parents and kids from the Indiana State Police and Anderson Police Department:
* Trick-or-treat hours are 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Saturday. Parents should travel with their young children.
* Keep costumes short to prevent trips and falls. Wear light colors or put reflective tape on a costume. Attach your child’s name, address, and phone number to the inside of the costume.
* Try makeup instead of a mask. Masks can obstruct vision, which makes tasks like crossing the street and going up and down stairs dangerous.
* Make sure older children trick-or-treat with friends. Together, map out a safe route so parents know where they will be.
* Instruct children to stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.
* Trick-or-treat while it’s still light out. If children are out after dark, make sure they have flashlights and travel on well lighted streets.
* Do not enter the homes or cars of strangers.
* Don’t eat treats until they get home and check out all treats at home in a well-lighted place. Eat only unopened candies in original wrappers. Inspect fruits for anything suspicious.
Now, let’s look at another side — the one that affects you, if you’re an adult reader.
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year. Goblins will be out until late. People tend to drink alcohol more on weekends.
In 2008, 58 percent of all highway fatalities across the nation on Halloween night (6 p.m. Oct. 31 to 5:59 a.m. Nov. 1) involved a driver or a motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
So be on alert for drunken drivers. Be especially aware of your own drinking and driving. If you have a costume party — even with your church group — monitor the amount of drinking by your guests.
This year, wear the costume of a responsible social host.
Of all the warnings issued this time of year, we particularly like the tips from the Insurance Information Institute in New York City.
* Consider hiring a professional bartender or reliable friend to serve drinks. This will discourage friends from mixing their own drinks and help to keep track of the size and number of drinks they consume. (Keep these in mind for New Year’s Eve.)
* Limit your own alcohol intake to better determine if a guest is sober enough to drive.
* Serve non-alcoholic beverages. Always have soft drinks, juices and other non-alcoholic beverages available for those guests who are driving or choose not to drink.
* Don’t serve alcohol to minors. Ever. Even if they’re costumed as an adult.
* Be a smart host; push the food, not the alcohol on your guests.
* Stop serving alcohol one hour before the party ends. Switch to coffee, tea, soft drinks or non-alcoholic beverages.
We expect parents to watch out for their children on Halloween. We expect adults to drive carefully through neighborhoods. And on this particular Saturday night, we should expect and guide adults to act responsibly even in the confines of their own homes.
Editorials
Editorial: Watch out for kids this Halloween
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