Who says Halloween can’t be safe, fun and … save lives? OK, so the last one may normally seem a bit of a stretch, but this year’s annual night of ghouls, witches, goblins and candy actually can save lives.

And you can help make Halloween Howl a success.

Plenty of fun and candy will be available for the children, but what’s more important is what the event may accomplish long after all of the candy is devoured.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the purchase of toddler car seats that will be distributed by the Natchez Police Department.

The event is the brainchild of Natchez Regional Medical Center administrator Jack Houghton. Too often, Houghton says, hospital personnel see tiny victims of car accidents come into the emergency room injured because they aren’t restrained properly.

The car seats are for the &uot;in between&uot; children — those who are too big for infant car seats and too small to be restrained by the car’s built-in seat belts. In addition, personnel from the Natchez Police will be on hand at the event to inspect car seats and determine if they are in proper working order.

In addition to the serious cause, Halloween Howl will also be filled with fun for children 10 and under. Trick-or-treat booths will be set up from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Halloween night at the Main Street Marketplace.

Halloween Howl is co-sponsored by Natchez Regional and The Natchez Democrat with several other businesses also helping out.

The event should be a heck of a lot of fun and may help save a life.

For information on how to participate contact the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce at (601) 445-4611.