Beech Tree News Network

It is hard to believe that summer has already wrapped up and autumn is in full swing. Children are well into their academics and some may already be preparing for fall breaks. Many have already picked out their Halloween costume this year, whether it be a superhero or movie character or a classic witch or pumpkin. While the kids are enjoying running door-to-door, there are a few steps parents can take to ensure their safety.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers some great tips for safe Halloween fun:

    Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
    Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
    If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
    Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts, and review with children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they ever have an emergency or become lost.

    Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left unattended.

    To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
    Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
    Wet leaves or snow should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
    Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.
    A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds and only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.

Additionally, the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security has asked parents to encourage your children not to wear a creepy clown outfit leading up to, and including on, Halloween. Reports of creepy clowns are spreading (mild) hysteria across the nation, including Kentucky where a threat of school violence that circulated through social media led to more than half the students of Gallatin County schools staying home from school one day.

The Kentucky Office of Homeland Security is in contact with local law enforcement and monitoring the situation closely. This includes tracking creepy clown instances across Kentucky, including sightings in Waco, Kentucky, and the arrest of a 20-year-old man in Middlesboro dressed in frightening clown attire that was lurking in a wooded area next to an apartment complex.

To date, no acts of violence have been tied to people dressed as clowns but with Halloween rapidly approaching people should exercise caution as incidents like these tend to inspire copycats. And with law enforcement across the Commonwealth and the country on heightened awareness for people dressed in creepy clown outfits, it would be wise to avoid any potential conflict.

I have the highest trust in our law enforcement agencies to keep our families and children safe this holiday season. Please remember as you spend the holidays with your family that many of our law enforcement officers will be on duty to ensure our well-being, sacrificing time with their families to serve the public. I cannot thank them enough for all they do, and I encourage you to thank a public servant whenever you get the chance.

If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at [email protected].  You can also review the Legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov.

 Senator C.B. Embry, JR (R-Morgantown) represents the 6th District including Butler, Hopkins, Muhlenberg, and Ohio Counties. He is Vice Chair of Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection, Chair of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Education, and member of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy, and Transportation Committees.