Middlesex County Car Accident Lawyers

Halloween Safety

Ghosts, goblins, and skeletons planning to trick or treat this year on Halloween are being advised to make safety a top priority. The National Safety Council (NSC) recently reported that the month of October has the second highest number of reported traffic fatalities in the U.S. Many of these fatalities are related to car and pedestrian accidents on Halloween.

Excited children and teenagers, and even adults, venture out at dusk during the evening hours on October 31^st each year, hoping to end the night with a bag filled to the brim with candy and other treats. To ensure a fun and healthy holiday, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers several safety tips that can help protect you and your family.

Adult Supervision and Guidance

Young children under the age of 12 should always be accompanied by an adult during their trick or treating adventure. Parents, grandparents, and other trusted adults should keep children in groups, helping them to navigate their path along sidewalks and walkways. Children should walk from house to house and refrain from running to reduce their risk of falling. Many of the youngest trick or treaters may have difficulty walking up and down steps that lead to the front door of many houses. Adults can help by carrying the treat bags for these little ones until they are safely at the door and helping them again as they come off of the steps.

Older children and teenagers also need to be reminded of safety precautions before they are allowed to go off with their friends. Tweens and teens should always travel in groups, making sure to stay together. Like most children, this age group is often spontaneous and impulsive as they run off to catch up with their friends. Parents need to remind them to be careful when crossing the street by looking both ways and to use traffic signals and crosswalks. Cell phones should be kept in pockets to avoid distractions that can lead to car accidents.

Costumes may seem like a harmless part of Halloween, but the often-bulky material, long lengths, and masks that impede vision can increase the potential for serious injury. Costumes should be hemmed to a safe length, preferably above the ankle. Masks should have openings wide enough to allow for unobstructed vision and peripheral sight. Non-toxic make up is a safe alternative to a mask. Reflective tape added to a costume will make trick or treaters more visible to motor vehicles.

Parents are advised to be vigilant in checking their children’s treat bags before allowing them to eat their candy and other goodies. Children should only eat treats that are individually wrapped and free from damage. Fresh fruit and baked goods are tempting, but inspect them carefully and only allow your children to eat those that came from trusted sources. Moreover, be on the lookout for holiday themed treats that contain small pieces that can be a choking hazard to youngsters less than three years of age.