Police issue warnings for Halloween safety

Local law enforcement agencies are asking small-time trick-or-treaters and big-time Halloween partiers to be safe during today’s festivities.

The Kalispell Police Department aimed its tips at children taking part in trick-or-treating.

Among the suggestions are that costumes should be bright, reflective and flame-resistant, that realistic replica firearms should never be used and that each child wear a bracelet or tag with his or her name, emergency contact information and address.

The department has warned children to never enter a stranger’s home to get candy, to only trick-or-treat in well-known neighborhoods at homes with porch lights on, to use sidewalks and not to eat candy until it has been inspected.

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, while also issuing tips for trick-or-treaters and their parents, included tips for those attending Halloween events aimed at adults.

Adults are urged to plan a safe way home ahead of time, designate a sober driver, leave keys at home and to report drunk drivers.

“Night time is always a dangerous time on the road, but Halloween can be particularly scary if you get behind the wheel drunk,” Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry wrote.

“According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, no less than 41 percent of all highway fatalities throughout the nation during the Halloween period in 2010 involved” drunk driving, Curry added.