Our Views: Let’s be safe on Halloween

• Advocate Opinion page staff
• Published: Oct 31, 2009 - Page: 8B

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A year ago, south Louisiana residents were still digging out from Hurricane Gustav, a storm that brought lots of neighbors together to share the hardships of power outages and the work of cleanup and rebuilding.

Another Halloween has arrived today in a considerably calmer hurricane season for south Louisiana. However, tonight’s Halloween trick-or-treating is a nice occasion for neighbors to reconnect with neighbors and remind themselves of the value of community.

Official trick-or-treating hours in East Baton Rouge Parish have been moved up an hour and will be from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

The time change is intended to accommodate the LSU-Tulane home football game tonight.

Because of the home game and Halloween festivities, many people will be driving this evening. Police Chief Jeff LeDuff is urging all motorists to be especially mindful of pedestrians this evening.

LeDuff urged motorists heading to the game to be observant while driving through residential areas. Parents are advised to avoid walking along major thoroughfares on the LSU football traffic routes, if possible.

The Police Department offers these Halloween safety tips to parents:

• Never allow children to trick-or-treat without adult supervision.
• Always stay in groups while trick-or-treating.
• Use sidewalks and stay out of the street whenever possible.
• Wear reflective clothing or bright costumes.
• Trick-or-treat only in familiar neighborhoods.
• Do not allow children to eat candy or treats until thoroughly checked by an adult.
• Call police if any suspicious activity occurs, or if candy is suspected to be tainted.
• Residents are urged to hand out only manufactured, sealed candy.

We urge residents to take special care to make this a safe and happy Halloween for everyone.