Keeping Kids Safe This Halloween

In Alaska, wildlife and motorists on slick roads can be hazards

Tools

By Kate McPherson
Bio | Email

Story Created: Oct 30, 2012 at 7:36 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Oct 31, 2012 at 5:53 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - The big night of fright is almost upon us, and children are preparing to fill the streets to collect their treats.

But with candy on their minds, children might need a reminder how to stay safe while having fun.

Police and firefighters say there are rarely any major problems during trick or treating, but precautions need to be taken.

“Stay in groups and have a plan of where they are going to be going throughout the neighborhoods," said Captain Blake Lindsoe from Station 4.

One of the more serious threats to children this Halloween night will come from slippery roads.

Captain Lindsoe warns drivers to be extra vigilant.

“We just got this snowfall here and if we get another snowfall on top of this, cars are usually going too fast through neighborhoods for the conditions, and we'd hate to see somebody get hit by a vehicle,” said Lindsoe.

Parents are advised to make their kids a little more visible by giving them a flashlight and adding some reflective tape to costumes.

It's also a good idea to make sure children aren't eating something that could be dangerous.

“They should actually get back to the house put it on the kitchen table look it through make sure it's okay and nothing has been tampered with,” said Lindsoe.

And a threat that's all too real for Anchorage: moose.

“Most encounters have been with moose at Halloween time,” said Jessy Coltrane, a wildlife biologist with the Department of Fish and Game.

“They are expecting it to be just another night in the dark where they are by themselves,” said Coltrane.

“Now all of a sudden there are all these little ghosts and goblins and witches running around out there.”

Coltrane advises to be extra vigilant when walking around Wednesday night, especially when some costumes can obscure vision.

The bear roaming the Hillside area eating chickens hasn't been found and extra vigilance is needed in the neighborhoods from Stuckagain Heights to Rabbit Creek.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.