Police at Parkland offer tips to prepare neighborhoods for Halloween
Safety should be year-round priority
Halloween is that one night of the year when ghosts, goblins, princesses and pirates can be found darting about in neighborhoods across the country. With buckets – and sometimes pillowcases in hand – trick-or-treaters quickly make their way from house-to-house in search of handfuls of sugary treats.
But while the focus of many youngsters is how much candy they collect, officers with the Dallas County Hospital District Police Department say the main concern for adults should be the safety of those tiny tots. Doing so means preparing communities and neighborhoods before All Hallows’ Eve arrives.
“Get out of your house after dark and take a walk along the same path that trick-or-treaters might take. Is it well lighted or have the street lights burned out?” said Darlene Griffin, Parkland’s crime prevention officer. “If it’s dark, start calling the city or whatever agency has jurisdiction and get those lights replaced around your home and in your neighborhood.”
Make sure cross walks are clearly identified and if they’re not, find out who is responsible for doing so and get a fresh coat of paint applied so your little pumpkin can safely cross the intersection.
Dust off the pruning shears and cut back the branches that are obstructing the views along sidewalks and paths. If you live in an area with a homeowners association, notify them of tall grasses or overgrown shrubs in common areas. Not only are these potential hazards, but they may be perfect hideouts for creepy critters that fly, crawl, slither or swim.
Although most encounters will be harmless, bites and stings inevitably will occur. When that happens, remember that medical professionals at the North Texas Poison Center (NTPC) located at Parkland Health are standing by, ready to help.
“And,” warns Melody Gardner, MSN, MHA, BSN, RN, Senior Director of the North Texas Poison Center, “if you’re not careful where you step you can easily brush up against poison ivy or bull nettle that may have oils or prickly parts that cause mild to severe irritation to the skin.”
When you call the NTPC at 1-800-222-1222, you will receive first-aid advice and, if necessary, referrals to your doctor or emergency department. Even when someone doesn’t know the actual identity of the offending pest, the first-aid steps provided by the poison center specialist may allow treatment at home. At other times, the bite or sting will require urgent medical care, and the poison center staff will help with that, too. Their phone number is good to keep handy or programmed into your cell phone in case of any type of poisoning emergency year-round.
“The thing to remember is that kids of all ages will be out and about on Halloween. It should be a day filled with laughter and good times, not one marked with panic and fear,” Officer Griffin said. “So start surveying your neighborhood today to see what you can do to make it a safe and inviting place not only on Halloween, but every day.”
For information about services available at Parkland, visit www.parklandhealth.org.
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