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Is Halloween Safe?
Thursday
October 25, 2001
Fears of anthrax tainted candy, haunting e-mails warning people to stay away from malls, worries that children won't be safe on the streets all in the wake of September. Now October 31st is even more scary than usual.
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From
Washington DC to Michigan to California, some communities
are canceling or discouraging trick or treating. In Arkansas,
Governor Mike Huckabee is calling for church or school
activities instead. He wants to save emergency crews from
a night of false alarms. He says, “We can't handle the
panic if someone looks into their bag and sees a pixie
stick broken and think that's anthrax."
At theme parks, traditional Halloween parties are taking a softer tone. Universal Studios in Orlando renamed their bloodbath underground attraction, “The Ooze Zone.” In San Francisco, the Great America theme park’s annual Halloween makeover is still scary but more appropriate. At malls like the Media City Center in Burbank, California, spokesman Warren Chaumont says Halloween will go on with increased security and vigilance.
Experts say it is important to be safe, but Miriam Arond of Child Magazine says it's also important for parents and children to maintain traditions. She says, “This is a fun time and kids need fun more than ever.”
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