Everyone loves a good scare on Halloween, but if you have loved ones—especially little ones—your number one priority is their safety. Fortunately, there are proactive measures you can take to ensure that your kids have a happy and fun--but most importantly safe—Halloween.
On average, children are more than twice as likely to be struck by a car and killed on Halloween than any other day of the year.
To make sure that your kids are safety this year, here are a number of steps you can take to keep them safe:
Carry glow sticks or flashlights, use reflective tape or stickers on costume and bags, and wear light colors to help kids see and be seen by drivers.
Join kids who are under the age of 12 for trick-or-treating.
Slow down and stay alert! Kids are excited on Halloween and may jump out into the street, giving little to no thought to potential drivers on the road. Turn your headlights on, so that kids will be visible to you as you drive. You should also be making a mental note to expect kids to be close to the roads, so drive with caution.
Remind kids to cross the street at corners or crosswalks.
When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls. Whenever possible, choose face paint over masks. Masks can limits children’s vision.
Costumes that are bright in color are more easily visible, so if you can, wear bright colors.
Travel in groups.
Once your kids are finished trick-or-treating for the evening, inspect their candy carefully before allowing them to consume those tasty treats. Be on the lookout for anything sharp that could cause injuries and if anything seems weird or suspicious, throw it away. It’s better to not take chances. Use your intuition.