Halloween Safety Tips
Halloween is a magical night. Most kids and parents have fun memories revolving around the costumes, treats, and excitement that comes from running around the neighborhood, ringing doorbells, and shouting, “trick or treat.”
But not everyone is smiling.
Halloween also happens to be the most dangerous day of the year for child pedestrian deaths.
Extra precautions are necessary to ensure your child’s safety. Because of the increasing and ongoing problem of distracted driving, we think the numbers shared below will be higher than ever this year.
A study by research expert Bert Sperling concluded that kids have a higher chance of being killed by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year. This high number includes the Fourth of July and New Years Day.
The research effort analyzed more than four million records in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) involving children up to 18 years of age. Here’s what the data shows:
One hundred and fifteen child pedestrian fatalities occurred on Halloween over the 21 years of the analysis: That’s an average of 5.5 deaths each year on October 31. The number of deaths is more than double the average number of 2.6 fatalities for other days.
The Deadliest Hour: Nearly one-fourth (26 out of 115) of deaths occurred between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. Over 60% of the accidents happened in the 4 hours from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Middle of the Block Most Hazardous: Over 70% of the deaths occurred away from an intersection or crosswalk.
Ages at Risk on Halloween: Most of the fatalities occurred with children ages 12–15 (32% of all child fatalities), followed by children ages 5–8 (23%).
Drivers Who Posed the Greatest Risk: Young drivers ages 15–25 accounted for nearly one-third of all fatal accidents involving child pedestrians on Halloween.
Safety Tips (Pedestrians and Generally)
Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don’t run from house to house.
Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
Remind drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters and to drive safely.
Be careful with all objects using a flame or fire.
Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
Avoid trick-or-treating alone — walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible. Don’t expect the driver of a car to see you in your costume.
Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult.
Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.
Tips for Activities at Your Home
Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as low-calorie treats and drinks. For party guests, offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses.
Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity.
Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.
Keep candle-lit jack-o’lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended.
Watch for electrical fires. Do not overload electrical outlets.
Carefully set up and use fire items, lights, fog machines, decorations, support lines, and other decorative items. They can burn, shock, fall, or cause a child or adult to trip and become injured.
Conclusion
Have fun this Halloween. Take a moment to review and share this checklist with those you care about before heading out for the evening.
