Halloween Safety
Halloween is a cherished tradition, but the excitement of the night can cause children to forget to be careful. The major dangers are not from tricks or treats, but rather from falls and pedestrian/car crashes. Both children and adults need to think about safety on this annual day of make-believe.
The National Safety Council urges motorists to be especially alert on Halloween:
- Watch for children darting out from between parked cars, walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
- At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.
Here’s a scary statistic: Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween as on any other day of the year. Lack of visibility because of low lighting at night also plays a factor in these incidents.
Parents, review these tips before children start out on their “trick or treat” rounds:
- Accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds.
- Plan and discuss a route trick-or-treaters intend to follow and establish a return time.
- Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along the established route.
- Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger’s home.
- Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.
- Pin a slip of paper with the child’s name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.
- Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision.
- Children and adults are reminded to put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street. Motorists should also not be distracted.
- Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.
Safe Halloween Accessories:
- Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.
- Bags or sacks carried by youngsters should be light-colored or trimmed with retro-reflective tape if children are allowed out after dark.
- Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.
Halloween Safety – Tips for Treats:
- Give children an early meal before going out.
- Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten.
- When in doubt, throw it out!