How to dress safely for Halloween

Police and costume designers are offering tips on how to dress safely and be safe for Halloween.

With Halloween coming Oct. 31, families and friends will spend the night wearing costumes and trick-or-treating or taking part in other activities. However, careful thought should be given when coming up with a costume in order to prevent getting in trouble.

Andria Dyer, 38, is a constable with Chatham-Kent Police Service. Dyer said police expect more calls for service on Halloween and some of those reasons are based on costumes. Chatham-Kent Police Service received calls last year about people in clown costumes scaring people. Other calls related to costumes came from concerns about prop weapons which were mistaken to be real.

“If you think twice about your costume, it’s probably a bad idea,” said Dyer. “I always say, if you don’t think your actions would be okay for your grandmother then don’t do or say it in public.”

Emma Scott, 19, is a student in the St.Clair College fashion design technician program. Scott has an interest in designing clothing and uses those skills to make unique Halloween costumes every year. Due to experience with Halloween and other costume-related events, Scott is mindful of how she makes her costumes.

“When you make your props, don’t use hard materials that could be considered dangerous in any circumstance, like sharp objects and metals,” said Scott. “Use wood, foam and plastics to make them and they will turn out just as good.”

Another thing to consider is making sure costumes are visible in the dark to avoid accidents with people and vehicles. Dyer said to avoid wearing masks in stores or restaurants and do not trespass on property in order to take shortcuts.

“Be smart about your choices and if police do become involved, be sure to cooperate and identify yourself,” said Dyer. “As long as you aren’t doing anything wrong then you should be able to enjoy the season.”