West Plains, MO. – The City of West Plains has brewed up a cauldron of Halloween safety tips, courtesy of the West Plains Police Department, to ensure all ghosts, goblins, and ghouls have a frightfully good time while trick-or-treating!
For those ready to hit the streets in search of sweet treats, the Police Department suggests haunting between the magical hours of 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Halloween night.
Here are some spooktacular safety tips to help keep you safe while you enjoy all the tricks and treats:
- When crossing streets, use crosswalks and always look left, right, and left again. Zombies may stumble, but you shouldn’t!
- Keep your eyes off your electronic devices and stay alert as you roam the neighborhood—keep your head up, even if you’re wearing one from a costume!
- Make sure to lock eyes with any drivers before crossing in front of their cars (or broomsticks!).
- Stick to the sidewalks when possible, or if you must walk in the street, face traffic. Be wary of vehicles turning or backing up—after all, they might not see little witches, vampires, or superheroes lurking in the dark.
- Little monsters under 12 should always have an adult accompanying them. Older ghouls should stick to well-lit, familiar areas, and remember: safety in numbers! Even werewolves like a pack.
- Add some eerie flair to your costume with reflective tape, glow sticks, or flashlights to make sure you’re visible to passing mummies—I mean, drivers.
- Choose face paint or makeup over masks, so you can keep your monster vision sharp.
- Make sure costumes fit properly—there’s nothing scarier than a vampire tripping over his own cape!
- If you’re driving through residential areas, slow down and be extra careful—kids might be dashing out like ghosts in the night!
And don’t worry—our local police will be out patrolling to make sure all monsters behave themselves! If you spot anything suspicious, don’t hesitate to dial 256-2244. Let’s make this Halloween a night of spooky fun, safe scares, and sweet treats for all!
