Parkland police caution to be aware of tricks while out treating
DALLAS – Halloween is a time of ghoulish pranks and spooky encounters, but one of the world’s oldest holidays can be a little less frightening by following some simple tips from the Dallas County Hospital District Police Department.
One of the most important things is to talk to your little ghouls about safety.
“From the time they are very young, we talk to our children about being aware of strangers,” said Dan Birbeck, a lieutenant with Parkland’s Police Department. “Children should only go to homes where they know who lives there. And only go to the houses where the outside lights are on.”
Lt. Birbeck also cautioned that children should always have an adult with them and even if the adult is waiting on the sidewalk never, ever go inside to collect candy.
As for pedestrian safety, Lt. Birbeck reminds trick-or-treaters to walk on the sidewalk and never in the street. “Go in the late afternoon or at night and try to avoid sunset when the glare from the sun can sometimes make it difficult to see a ghost or goblin who may be crossing the street,” he added. “And avoid walking between parked cars and when driving watch for children, especially when backing up because the children may blend in while they’re in costume.”
Having some type of light is also key to ensuring your little monster remains safe this Halloween. Make sure you have a flashlight to illuminate the way after the sun goes down. Glow sticks and glow necklaces also come in handy, but make sure they haven’t been damaged as they contain a low concentration of the chemical Dibutyl Phthalate, which is relatively harmless.
“I also like to remind everyone, including my own family, to inspect all the candy they receive,” Lt. Birbeck said. “Teach your little ones to only eat treats in the original wrappers. If you suspect the candy is bad or may have been tampered with, be safe – throw it away.”
When in doubt, the staff of the North Texas Poison Center (NTPC), housed at Parkland, is ready to answer any poison-related questions on its toll-free hotline at 1.800.222.1222.
Last year poison information specialists received 191 Halloween-related calls. Of those, 133 were calls involving exposures to various substances and 58 were for information. In fiscal year 2012, the NTPC received 74,504 calls. The staff assessed, triaged and monitored more than 45,700 poisoned patients of which 72 percent were monitored at home.
