Safety first for Halloween

Ghouls and goblins are warned to keep safety in mind Saturday for Halloween.

Police will be out in full force, including at least one driving under the influence checkpoint today. And the costumes, candles and number of out-of-town visitors for the Sikh Parade could be a recipe for problems unless proper precautions and common sense are in place, police and fire officials said.

The Marysville Police Department will have a large presence at the downtown Scarysville event on Saturday, as well as additional units throughout the city.

"We will have personnel down there to make sure all the little candy-goers are happy and safe," said Sgt. John Osbourn.

Those who choose to celebrate with alcohol need to make sure they have a designated driver, he said.

"If you are over the limit, you are going to be under arrest," Osbourn said. "Think before you drink and have a safe ride home. The life you save may be your own."

The exact location of the California Highway Patrol DUI checkpoint has not yet been released but it will be from 8 p.m. today to 1 a.m. Saturday in an unincorporated area of Sutter County.

How busy police are on Halloween varies from year to year, Osbourn said. But this year will likely bring an increase in calls for service because the holiday falls on a Saturday.

"Hopefully everybody chooses to keep the peace and have a great holiday," he said.

Children's safety remains a priority.

All young revelers should have some kind of adult supervision, stay with other people and have some kind of illuminating device so people can see them, Osbourn said. Any candy consumed should be commercially packaged and sealed.

Weekend weather should treat witches and warlocks well, said Cynthia Palmer, meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

Temperatures will reach a high of 72 degrees Saturday and a low of 48 to 56 degrees at night with relatively light winds.

Partiers and exhausted children will have an extra hour to recuperate from Saturday's festivities. The fall time change to turn clocks back one hour for daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday.

Residents should remember that changing clocks is a great time to change smoke detector batteries, said Yuba City Fire Marshal Jim Matthews.

General fire safety is also important for Halloween, he said. Not all costumes are truly "fire retarding," so care should be taken to keep jack-o-lanterns and other material away from children's paths and other flammable materials.

Candle use in general should be avoided, of possible, because they can cause a lot of problems if left unattended, he said.

"Much like anything fire and alcohol don't mix," Matthews said. "Everybody wants to have a good time. Little recreational fires are not illegal but you need to keep them small, keep combustibles away, keep the weeds cut down and keep a hose handy."