Yuma News Now

Yuma, Arizona - The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting free Halloween candy screening at the following locations. Walmart - Avenue B, Walmart - Pacific Avenue, Walmart - 32^nd Street (Hwy 80), Fry’s Food Store - Fortuna Road.

The screenings will be available between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. at the above listed locations during the evening of October 31^st. The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office would also like to offer the following safety tips:

• choose a costume made of flame retardant material
• costumes should be short enough so that they don't cause your child to trip and fall,
• for good visibility, add some reflective tape to the costume or bag he is using to carry candy or make/choose a costume made of bright material that is visible in the dark
• masks should fit securely and allow your child to see well and not hinder visibility
• knives, swords and other props should be made of a flexible material, so that they don't pose a hazard if fallen on

• children should be well supervised by an adult when trick-or-treating. Older children should trick-or-treat in large groups in well known neighborhoods.
• carry a flashlight
• stick to well lit houses in familiar neighborhoods only
• follow traffic signals and rules of the road
• drive slowly
• avoid taking shortcuts across backyards or alleys. Stick to the sidewalks of well lit streets

• instruct your children to bring all candy home before eating it so that it can be carefully inspected for tampering. Children shouldn't snack while they're out trick-or-treating, before parents have a chance to inspect the goodies. To help prevent children from munching, give them a snack or light meal before they go -- don't send them out on an empty stomach.
• Tell children not to accept -- and, especially, not to eat--anything that isn't commercially wrapped.
• Throw out candy or treats that are homemade, unwrapped or if they appear to have been tampered with (pinholes in wrappers, torn wrappers, etc.)
• Parents of young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.

• homeowners should prepare their home for trick-or-treaters by removing obstacles from the front yard, restraining dogs and other animals, and lighting the house well
• provide treats that are individually wrapped candy or offer kids nonfood treats, such as stickers and erasers.
• artificial lights and candles are a safer alternative to real candles with a flame that can pose a fire hazard