Skeletons of Vivian Line and Stratford police deliver Halloween safety message
Stratford police and the Skeletons of Vivian Line teamed up Thursday to deliver some important Halloween safety messaging to trick-or-treaters and those planning to hand out candy.
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The Stratford Police Service partnered with some bony friends Thursday to deliver pandemic and general safety tips to ensure all trick-or-treaters and candy givers can stay healthy while having fun this Saturday.
As followers of the Skeletons of Vivian Line may have noticed, the skeletons spent Thursday trick-or-treating and handing out candy alongside a Stratford police cruiser. Though they were clearly enjoying the Halloween festivities, Melissa McKerlie, the woman behind the daily October displays in her front yard, and Stratford police wanted those who saw the display to take away some key safety messages before the big night.
“We need to recognize that Halloween is a time for a lot of fun and a time for kids to go out and engage with people in the community, so they’re going to be out on the streets. They’ll be going door to door, hopefully social distancing as best as they can, and we need to be prepared,” Stratford police community resource officer Const. Darren Fischer said.
Though this year’s Halloween will differ from those of years past, Fischer said the same basic safety concepts still apply. Make sure trick-or-treaters wear at least some reflective clothing so they can be seen, check kids’ candy at the end of the night to ensure there isn’t anything in their bags that shouldn’t be, and come up with a planned route for those older kids who may be trick-or-treating without their parents.
However, both Fischer and McKerlie underscored the additional safety measures needed during a pandemic as kids and their parents enjoy the spookiest night of the year safely while preventing the potential transmission of COVID-19, a virus that has proven scarier than any goblin, ghost or skeleton.
Along with the public-health measures already in place, such as wearing a mask, social distancing and hand-washing, Fischer suggested trick-or-treaters stay within their social bubbles and avoid close contact with anyone they do not regularly see in school or at home.
“The other things that’s going to be key this year, as well, is being very patient,” Fischer said. “So families are going to need to be aware of where other families and other trick-or-treaters are and give them that space.
“So if you’re going to a house and you see another group of trick-or-treaters at that house, stand back, be patient and let them leave before you approach.”
For those planning on handing out candy, McKerlie demonstrated a number of of the safety precautions suggested by Huron Perth public health using her skeletal pals. At one end of Thursday’s display, a skeleton could be seen washing its hands and disinfecting pre-packaged and sealed treats.
Meanwhile, two other skeletons showed off inventive ways to hand out candy while maintaining that two-metre distance.
Other public-health advice includes turning off porch lights and staying home if sick, handing out candy outdoors whenever possible, only giving pre-packaged, sealed treats, cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces such as doorbells, handrails and doorknobs, avoiding decorations that cause coughing, like smoke machines, and avoiding the use of surprise scare tactics so trick-or-treaters don’t accidentally run into someone else’s social bubble.
“And don’t forget to stop by and see the skeletons,” McKerlie said. “We will be handing out candy in a very responsible manner. We’ll be doing it with tongs, in masks and practising safe social distancing. We have a great display set for Halloween night where the skeletons will actually be up in the air.”
And, as she has all month, McKerlie and her skeletons will once again be collecting donations for Operation Smile Canada.
For more information on how to celebrate Halloween safely this weekend, visit www.hpph.ca/en/news/celebrate-thanksgiving-and-hallowe-en-safely.
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