Halloween Safety 101: Keeping Kids Hauntingly Safe
Spooky season is officially here! Amidst all the fangtastic festivities be sure to keep your family healthy by checking out some of these tips.
1. Always accompany young children.
Be sure to keep an eye on your children while trick-or-treating. With more people on the streets, it is easy for children to get lost or injured. Accidents involving child pedestrians are most likely to occur from 6 pm - 9 pm and usually happen mid-block. Consider looking for fun daytime Halloween activities offered by your city to avoid dim lighting and instruct kids not to cross the street between parked cars. In case your child gets separated, pin a tag on their costume with their caretaker's phone number.
2. Stay on well-lit streets.
Stay on sidewalks, using traffic signals and crosswalks when walking across roads. If no sidewalks are available, walk facing traffic as far to the left as you can. Teach children to look left, right, and left again when traversing a road, keeping an eye out for cars as you walk. When trick-or-treating, look for houses with their porch light on or that have lit pathways.
3. No distracted walking.
Teach kids about the risks of distracted walking which includes talking on the phone, looking at devices, and listening to music. The best way to stay safe is to keep heads up, ears alert, and make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
4. Make sure costumes fit well and are visible.
Consider choosing a costume that is light-colored or bright so it can easily be spotted. You can also add reflective or glow-in-the-dark tape to the costume or trick-or-treat bag. If your child is wearing a mask as part of their costume, make sure they have good visibility or opt for face paint. To avoid tripping, check that all parts of the costume, especially shoes, fit well.
5. Drive with caution.
Avoid unnecessary accidents by slowing down in residential neighborhoods, getting rid of distractions, and turning on headlights earlier in the day. Be sure to look for kids at intersections and drive slowly when entering and exiting driveways.
