Make Halloween a treat for Children

PARENTS are being urged by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to follow a few simple safety tips to ensure this Halloween is a treat for their children.  Traditionally, emergency 999 calls to NWAS soar on Halloween, but the service believes this could be avoided if the public followed simple safety advice. NWAS is urging parents to make sure they always accompany children when they are trick or treating, to make sure children carry a torch, glow sick and wear reflective clothing to make them visible to drivers. Well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes should be worn to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls, children should learn how to cross the road properly as more accidents happen in the dark and face paints should be tested on a small area of skin first to check for irritation.  Director of Emergency Service at NWAS, Derek Cartwright, said:- "Halloween can be an exciting time for children and young people but combined with the dark nights and bad weather, children can be vulnerable to avoidable accidents. Emergency calls to the ambulance service soar at this time of years. We are urging parents to ensure their children are safe so they can enjoy the night and ambulances are free to attend life-threatening emergencies.  People should think before they dial 999, about whether they really need an ambulance. More appropriate treatment could be available at a minor injuries unit, walk in centre, GP or Pharmacy."  If you need advice about choosing the right NHS service for your needs, contact NHS Direct on:- 0845 46 47.  Halloween should be a fun, but remember not all want to take part.  Remember to check with elderly people and anyone vulnerable within your area that it is ok to let your children trick or treat at their property.  Also their might be religious objections from some, so it is always wise not to contact strangers and also respect peoples beliefs.   These are a few more simple rules, as suggested by the Royal Society For The Prevention Of Accidents, that you can uses in addition to your own...
 

	Plan a local route and stick to it!  Preferably, contact all the householders for permission beforehand!   Always use common sense.  Only visit houses with Halloween decorations, such as a carved pumpkin in the window.  Sadly not everyone welcomes trick or treaters, so please respect their views!   Be sure and say thank you for your treats!  Also never give out tricks!!!
	Always be very cautious of strangers.   Accept treats only in the doorway. Never go inside a house.  Also wait until you get home and your parents to check your sweets, before you eat them.  You might be allergic to them!
	Never trick-or-treat alone. Always ensure that there is adequate adult supervision.  ROSPA suggests one adult for every 3 children.  Young children should always go trick-or-treating with an adult.   Adults should always do regular headcounts.
	DO NOT carry any weapons or other props, as this might intimidate householders and passersby.  Worse still you could find your self arrested by the Police!
	Don't play near lit jack-o-lanterns.    Make sure that you are wearing a flame retardant costume.  Plus, do not carry glass jars with candles in or any naked flames!
	Wear costumes with reflective markings, and bright colours. Costumes should not drag the floor. If you have a hood or mask, check that it does not obstruct your vision, or that of a child's!  Adults should never drive wearing a mask or hood, or any costumes that could hamper your control of a vehicle.
	Walk, Do not run!    All members of your group should walk on the pavements and driveways.   Only cross the road at well lit places, with good visibility of on coming traffic.  Do not go into poorly lit areas!  Young children should hold an adult's hand near any roads.
	Carry a torch and take a cellular phone and watch with you if possible.   If you have a torch you can always hold it under your chin for a scary look, so it can also be part of your costume, as well as being a way to light up the dark...
	DO NOT cross lawns, flowerbeds or parks, as their may be hidden dangers, as well as the possibility you could be damaging property.

Futsal focus!

SILKY skills and nifty nutmegs will be on show next week as an exciting new sporting competition for youngsters kicks off.  Liverpool City Council is launching its first ever Junior Mixed Futsal League on Friday, 26 October 2012, in partnership with the Liverpool County FA and Ash Celtic Junior Football Club.  The fast-paced game is similar to 5-a-side football, but is played indoors, on a smaller pitch, with a smaller ball and there is a heavy emphasis on skill and technique.  Around 30 teams have already signed up to take part in the introductory matches, but organisers are encouraging more youngsters to get involved and become part of the new league.  The league is aimed at budding players aged from 7 to 10 years and it costs just £12.50 per team to enter. The sessions will take place every Friday at the Tennis Centre in Wavertree, running until the end of February 2013.  To mark the inaugural games in the City, Wavertree ward Councillor Jake Morrison will meet teams making up the new league and may even try out his futsal skills!  Councillor Morrison, said:- "Liverpool is a city with sport running through its veins and we want to do as much as we can to encourage future generations to get active.  The futsal league is a first for the city but with so many teams already signed up it already looks like it will be a great success It gives young people the chance to try out different skills, and is an opportunity for them to be part of something new, exciting and fun."   Ricky Heywood, Ash Celtic Junior Football Club Secretary and Welfare Officer said:- "The Ash Celtic Futsal league was an idea of Tommy Walsh who coaches several of our age groups and his idea, which is shared by all at the club, was to provide a platform for the young footballers of our city on which they can develop their technical skills. Futsal is ideal for this with the fast pace and heavier ball along with the emphasis on skill and passing, it is our belief that the players will improve if they are brought up on this game from an early age - just like Messi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho and many others from South America and Spain.   We believe it is time we were developing players with this type of technical skill and Futsal will give them every chance to achieve this."  For more information about the Junior Futsal League contact:- Ricky Heywood on:- 07547617427.

APPEAL FOR INFORMATION - MARK PEASE

SUFFOLK Police, on Friday 12 October 2012, had asked people on Merseyside to keep a look out for Mark Pease, aged 33. It was one of their possibilities that he may be in the Merseyside area, where he was thought to have friends. Mark Pease was missing since Thursday, 11 October 2012, but following the discovery of a man's body in the River Waveney, Aldeby, Norfolk, on Monday, 22 October 2012, Police have now confirm that they now believe his body. Police were called to Aldeby at 9.45am to reports of a body in the river. Suffolk Police, fire and ambulance all attended and the body was removed from the water at Burgh St Peter. Formal identification of the man has not yet taken place. A post mortem examination will be carried out later in the week to ascertain the cause of death. As is standard procedure the death will be treated as unexplained at this stage, but there are no suspicious circumstances. The matter has been referred to the coroner. Suffolk Police would like to thank the media and the people of Merseyside for their help. They still ask that should anyone have any information to contact Suffolk Police on:- 101.