Sheriff, Fire Chief provide Halloween safety tips

Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner and Ritzville Fire Chief Dennis Sackmann want to ensure local residents have a safe Halloween.

Wagner stated, “Parents, children and others, Halloween is an exciting time for everyone, please take precautions to ensure your Halloween festivities are fun and safe.”

Wagner’s safety tips include a responsible adult should always accompany children ages 12 and under when trick-or-treating, ensure costumes fit well, are flame retardant and never obscure vision.

He also suggests having children wear reflective clothing or carry a light with them.

Wagner suggests that parents teach children to never enter any home without a parent or parent’s permission, remind children to stay in well-lit areas, advise children to tell their parent or a trusted adult if they see anything weird or unusual.

Wagner also suggests that children over the age of 12 who are responsible enough to go without an adult, should stay in groups, follow an agreed upon route and watch for cars.

Wagner’s final suggestion is to remind children to bring treats home before eating them and to teach children to say “no” and “get away” from any person or situation making them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.

Residents can also check the Adams County Sheriff’s Office website for registered offenders in the area: adamscountysheriffwashington.org.

Sackmann’s tips for Halloween include choosing a costume without long trailing fabric and if the child is wearing a mask make sure the eye holes are large enough so they can see out.

He also suggests to keep all decorations away from open flames and other heat sources like bulbs and heaters. Use a battery-operated candle or glow-stick in jack-o-lanterns, if using a real candle use extreme caution, remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes, make sure the smoke alarms inside their home are working.

His last message was to make sure children know to stay away from open flames including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them, be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire.