Tips for a SAFE Halloween

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Published: Sunday, 22 October 2017 22:07

Tips for a Safe Halloween Halloween can be a fun holiday for kids, but a worrisome one for parents. Concerns about children's safety--whether they are out in the neighborhood or back home with bags of booty--can darken the day more quickly than a black cat. But not to worry! To make Halloween a treat, follow these safety tips.

ADULTS

• Make sure the path to your door is clear, welcome trick-or-treaters with your porch lights and turn on any exterior lights.

• Patrol your street occasionally to discourage speeding motorists, acts of malicious mischief and crimes against children.

• Report any suspicious or criminal activity to your police department immediately. Call 9-1-1.

• Do not give homemade or unwrapped treats to children.

MOTORISTS Exercise extreme caution when driving a vehicle. Be on the alert for excited youngsters, whose vision may be obscured by masks, darting out into traffic.

TRICK OR TREAT TIPS

• Make sure your kids dress up safely

• Make sure costumes are flame retardant so children aren't in danger near burning jack-o-lanterns.

• Keep costumes short to prevent trips, falls, and other bumps in the night.

• Try make-up instead of a mask. Masks can be hot and uncomfortable, and they can obstruct a child's vision, a dangerous thing when kids are crossing streets and going up and down steps.

• Make sure kids wear light colors or put reflective tape on their costumes.

• Make trick-or-treating trouble free

• Create a map of a safe trick-or treating route and set a time limit for your children to “trick-or-treat”.

• Trick-or-treaters should always be in groups so they aren't a tempting target for real-life goblins. Parents should accompany young children.

• Make sure older kids trick-or-treat with friends. Together, map out a safe route so you will know where they are going. Tell them to stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.

• Try to get your kids to trick-or-treat while it's still light out. If it's dark, make sure someone has a flashlight, add reflective tape to costumes and bags, and pick well-lighted streets.

• Do not go inside anyone’s home. Remain on the porch at all times.

• Do not accept rides from strangers and be sure children do not approach any vehicle, occupied or not.

• Remind kids to keep a safe distance from moving cars.

• Cross only at street corners, never between parked cars, and never diagonally across an intersection.

• Look in all directions before crossing the street, and obey all traffic signals. Walk, never run, across the street, and use sidewalks, not the street, for walking.

• Do not take shortcuts through back yards, alleys or parks.

• Do not eat any treats until parents have inspected them.

• Discard any homemade or unwrapped treats.

• Teach children how to call 9-1-1 in an emergency.

• Check all treats before eating

• It's hard for kids to hold back from eating their treats until they get home. One way to keep trick-or-treaters from digging in while they're still out is to feed them a meal or a snack beforehand.

• Check out all candy in a well-lighted place when your trick-or-treater gets home.

• What to eat? Only unopened candies and other treats that are in original wrappers. Don't forget to inspect fruit and homemade goodies for anything suspicious. By all means remind kids not to eat everything at once or they'll be feeling pretty ghoulish for while! Halloween can be a lot of fun for parents and kids alike--if everybody remembers the tricks and treats of playing it safe.

COSTUMES etc: A note to parents:

• Make sure your children’s costumes are not flammable.

• Do not permit your children to wear cumbersome, floor length or vision-impairing costumes.

• Reflectorized stripes make your costume more visible.

• In lieu of masks, we recommend face make up.

• Wear comfortable, safe shoes.

CALL 9-1-1 if you suspect any tainted candy.

Oktoberfest and Halloween Howl Oct. 26 at 6PM

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Published: Sunday, 22 October 2017 21:46

Oktoberfest and Halloween Howl

Thursday, October 26 at 6PM

St. Petersburg Woman’s Club

40 Snell Isle Blvd. NE

Join us for yummy food and lots of fun. You can look forward to a real treat this year and we don’t want you to miss it. Come dressed up for Halloween. We will see you Thursday at St. Petersburg Woman’s Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd NE. Save the date – Thursday, October 26 at 6PM.

District 2 Community Service Unit Info

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Published: Tuesday, 10 October 2017 23:53

Today, one of our members had occasion today to sit down with our new Lead Officer for our District 2 Community Service Unit, Sergeant Jason Deary. We are very fortunate to have him lead our group of Community Service Officers (CSO's) that includes Donald Herring (who mainly handles Snell & Venetian), Corey Crawford, Josh Jordan and Courtney Parker. They work interchangeably throughout our District 2 but they need our eyes and ears to help them do their job and help keep us safe!

The biggest problem we have is the fact that what we have all worked hard to earn - both in our homes, cars and other possessions - those who DON’T want to work, prefer to invade our space to take what we make easily available. The things we all need to do routinely are:

• Always keep both your cars and your home LOCKED.

• Don’t leave valuables in your car or, if you must, LOCK them in your trunk.

• Keep your garage door CLOSED.

• Report street lights that are not functioning properly.

• Especially note bicycle riders, especially youthful ones, who ride 2-3 in a “pack” that look out of place in our ‘hood. Consider they are “casing” the area, looking for opportunities.

• Use caution when hiring people purported to do handy work. This can be a rouse to “bait & switch” where you think only one person has arrived but, when they take you to your back yard to show you something, their cohorts (that you didn’t even know were along for the job) move quickly into your house stealing from you.

• If you have a lead foot, expect to receive a speeding ticket. Observe the speed limits - nothing is worth the accident you might cause by speeding or not paying attention!

When you let your guard down - even for a moment - you open yourself to the opportunity of becoming a victim. If you SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING! The Police appreciate the opportunity to serve but they need our help. Better safe than sorry. Please help do your part so all of us can enjoy the fruits of our labor! And please watch out for those who are vulnerable among us.

Stay Safe.

Oktoberfest and Halloween Howl - Oct. 26 at 6PM

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Published: Monday, 09 October 2017 12:56

Save the date – Thursday, October 26 at 6PM. Join us for yummy food and lots of fun. You can look forward to a real treat this year and we don’t want you to miss it. St. Petersburg Woman’s Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd NE.