Access Communications' annual Pumpkin Patrol will take place once again on Halloween. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Josh Ryan

Halloween safety

Pumpkin Patrol back in the Battlefords Saturday

Oct 30, 2020 | 12:17 PM

A tradition held for the past 24 years in Saskatchewan returns this Halloween.

Pumpkin Patrol, a safety awareness program where Access Communications staff and volunteers go out on patrol, will take place in 11 communities across the province Saturday evening. Some of the communities include La Ronge, Melville and the Battlefords. The volunteers for Pumpkin Patrol will be driving Access Communications vehicles equipped with a flashing orange light and glow-in-the-dark signage. They also have a direct link to local law enforcement if needed.

Despite the changes to each family’s Halloween experience this year, Fran Moran, director of communications at Access, said Pumpkin Patrol has always been about safety awareness, which remains as important as ever.

“There are families who are going to choose to trick-or-treat,” he said. “So we’re just going to be doing our part to make sure that trick-or-treaters out there, if they need help, can flag one of our patrollers and get in contact with police right away.”

Maron said it’s another way to cast a spotlight on the SHA’s guidelines for trick-or-treaters, which are available online. Access has been doing radio spots as well as providing tips on distancing, sanitization, candy distribution and more.

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“That’s just stuff that everyone should be aware of and everyone should do safely,” he said.

Because those driving the Pumpkin Patrol don’t leave vehicles and don’t allow people in, many protocols won’t change. However, this year members will be making sure the vehicle is sanitized, people are wearing PPE and there’s limited cross-household interaction between volunteers.

“We’re not rolling down windows, getting out of the vehicle or anything of that nature,” Moran said.

Many volunteers are from the community and a variety of partners for Access. Moran said they scaled back a bit this year, to limit household crossover and account for expectations of a smaller volume of trick-or-treaters, but still have plenty of people lending a hand.

“WPD Ambulance is fantastic. They’re lending us four ambulances for this as part of the patrol,” he said. “But the volunteers are primarily staff and friends and family.”

Most of the volunteers won’t be dressed up, but if they are, an easy way to identify them is by what they’re driving.

“The way to know and pick them off the street is that they are in an Access vehicle that’s got a bright orange light with a glow-in-the-dark access sign,” he said.

Pumpkin Patrol will be active from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday evening.

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports