Tips for safe trick-or-treating in Carson City

This column appears in the Nevada Appeal weekly. It addresses topics related to the health of our community.

Trick or Treat, Carson City.

Friday, children around the Carson City region will set out in search of fun and candy for Halloween. Trick-or-treating will take place the night before the annual Nevada Day parade, making for a fun weekend for area children.

Western Nevada Safe Routes to Schools and Carson City Health and Human Services would like to remind the community of some helpful tips to make door-to-door trick-or-treating safe, healthy and enjoyable for our community.

Tips for trick-or-treaters

Safety in numbers — avoid trick or treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.

Be safe, be seen — carry a flashlight so you can see where you’re going and attach reflective tape to costumes and bags to help others see you.

Look left, look right, look left again — look both ways before crossing the street. Use sidewalks and crosswalks wherever possible. Be careful not to dart out in traffic.

Don’t go bump in the night — wear costumes that fit properly and make sure masks allow you to see where you’re going to help prevent trips and falls.

Avoid stranger danger — only trick or treat at houses that are well-lit. Do not go inside anyone’s house that you do not know.

Bundle up — this year’s Halloween forecast calls for chilly temperatures and possibly rain. Wear layers of warm clothing to avoid frostbite.

Snack safely — check candy before eating to make sure wrappers are intact, and eat only factory-wrapped treats. Homemade treats offered by strangers may not be safe.

Tips for the community

Be sure walkways and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.

Keep candle-lit jack-o’-lanterns and luminaries away from things that could ignite, such as doorsteps, walkways, landings, costumes and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended.

If you’re driving, be on the lookout for trick-or-treaters and drive safely.

Keep displays and decorations family-friendly. Halloween is a fun time to have a little fright, but over-the-top gore and violent displays may not be appropriate for many children who will be out and about.

FLUE VACCINE DRIVE=THRU A SUCCESS

Carson City Health and Human Services would like to thank members of the community who took part in our drive-thru flu vaccine and community readiness exercise last Friday. We were able to vaccinate more than 1,400 people against the flu, Thanks to your support, we’ll be more prepared if a disaster ever strikes our community. If you missed the drive-thru clinic and still would like to receive a flu vaccine, they are still available for a fee at both the Long Street and Douglas County clinic locations. Most private insurances and Medicaid/Medicare accepted. For information on the flu vaccine or other Health Department programs and services, check out our website at http://www.gethealthycarsoncity.org/, or “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cchhs.