It is time again for the Great ShakeOut! The 2021 Great Central US ShakeOut is scheduled for October 21st at 10:21 am, and presently has 2 million registrants, including over 226,000 from Illinois. To learn more about earthquake preparedness, safety drills, and registering to participate in the Great ShakeOut, click here.

With the cool morning crispness and the leaves changing colors and falling, for many, Halloween helps usher in the excitement for the holiday season. Joyous students of all ages dress up and go trick or treating or attend Halloween parties. Hordes of ghoulish monsters, cute animals, and cartoon characters descend upon the streets as flickering jack-o-lanterns grin along the various porches and walkways. While Halloween can be an exciting time full of candy and shenanigans, it can also be quite dangerous. With every Halloween comes the potential for vehicle vs pedestrian accidents, fires, impaired driving, and, for a second year, COVID-19. Below are resources to help stay safe this Halloween.

Fire Safety: According to the National Fire Protection Association, "From 2014-2018, an average of 770 home structure fires began with decorations per year." They recommend using battery-powered candles, keeping decorations away from sources of heat, keeping exits clear and ensuring smoke alarms are working, and teaching children to stay away from open flames.

Pedestrian Safety: With all the foot traffic that Halloween brings, both drivers and pedestrians must be cautious. According to a 2019 study that looked at pedestrian traffic accidents on Halloween from 1975-2016, "The relative risk of a pedestrian fatality was 43% higher on Halloween compared with control evenings," and that "Subgroup analysis revealed the highest relative risk increase was among children, with pedestrians aged 4 to 8 years exhibiting a 10-fold increase in pedestrian fatality risk on Halloween." Additionally, the Consumer Reports website includes the resource "Smart Road Tips for Halloween Safety: Advice for drivers and trick-or-treaters."

Impaired Driving: As stated above, drivers must be extra cautious given all the extra pedestrians on Halloween. The U.S. Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Marketing website includes resources on Halloween and impaired driving, including social media playbook guide to help encourage safe driving. According to the playbook, "From 2014 to 2018, approximately two out of every five motor vehicle fatalities during the Halloween period (6:00 p.m. October 31 to 5:59 a.m. November 1) were alcohol-impaired driving crashes."

COVID-19 Halloween Guidance: The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued guidance on celebrating Halloween during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Halloween Guidance addresses incorporating masks into costumes; trick-or-treating; alternative trick-or-treating; haunted houses, woods, and walks; pumpkin patches, orchard visits, and fall festivals; social gatherings; etc.

This is the last chance to register for the "Digital Threat Assessment" training through Safer Schools Together on October 26, 2021, via Zoom. The goal of the Digital Threat Assessment class is to give attendees a stronger understanding of the current social media world, provide tools to be able to proactively identify student safety concerns, and provide strategies for dealing with online situations as they arise. For more information and to register, click here.

There's still time to register for the Railroad Safety for First Responders, Educators, and School Bus Drivers class on October 28, 2021 from 9am-12pm via Zoom. The Railroad Safety class covers the challenges that frontline responders and school staff are faced with when responding to an incident on or near railroad property. This 3-hour class will prepare all involved (bus drivers, school administrators, law enforcement, first responders, etc.) and will provide responding individuals the correct tools to safely navigate the unfamiliar environment of the railroad. For more information and to register, click here.

There's still time to register for the "Advanced Digital Threat Assessment" training through Safer Schools Together on October 29, 2021, via Zoom. Building upon the Digital Threat Assessment class, this class will leave participants with a concrete understanding of how to find and curate relevant digital information as is typically represented in a real-life digital threat assessment data gathering scenario. Major engagement and hands-on practice will take place. For more information and to register, click here.