When you ask any kid about what their favorite season is, there are two most likely answers. It’s either Christmas, Halloween, or both! But why do kids love Halloween so much despite all the spooky decorations and scary costumes?
A big part of Halloween’s appeal for kids is dressing up and getting candy. However, serious safety risks are associated with the holiday. On Halloween, children are twice as likely as any other night of the year to be hit by a car. On Halloween, it’s common to get burned or cut, and candy-related issues can also arise.
Halloween can be safely enjoyed if parents plan ahead and keep an eye on their kids. Here’s a Halloween safety guide for drivers and pedestrians who are trick or treating:
Safety Tips for Parents:
Make Sure Your Child Has Their Phone on Them At All Times
Phones are a convenient way to communicate these days. Some phones even have GPS trackers installed in them. When letting your kids trick or treat alone, make sure that they have their phone with them at all times so you will be able to call them and track their location at the same time.
Ensure that your smartphone is fully charged and in low-battery mode before using it to avoid draining it by leaving features like the flashlight on.
Keep Your Kids Visible
The streets are darker at night despite all the street lights; this may cause drivers to have difficulty seeing children walking on the road. To avoid getting involved in an accident, make sure that you find a way to keep your kids visible to drivers.
Glow sticks are an excellent alternative to flashlights for your children’s Halloween costumes if they don’t want to carry them around (and safety measures). It’s possible to get glow sticks with a Velcro release that can be worn around the child’s neck and hung from their back without interfering with their costume. Hair glow sprays and face markers with neon colors are available for those who want to stand out in the dark.
Before You Let Your Child Indulge in Any Treats, Make Sure They’re Safe to Eat.
While trick-or-treating, don’t allow your child to eat any treats without inspecting them. Before you leave the house, make sure your child has eaten a healthy breakfast and check all sweets to make sure they are safe. Anything that isn’t sealed has ripped packaging or otherwise appears suspect should be thrown away. Avoid giving gum, peanuts, hard candy, and other choking hazards to young children. If your child has food sensitivities, make sure to read the labels on all of the candy your child consumes.
Talk With Other Parents
Work with other parents to ensure that all of your children have the same level of mobility. It will be difficult for a group of kids with varying degrees of mobility to stay together.
Discuss Important Safety Rules With Your Kids Before Letting Them Go Trick or Treating
Before letting your child go trick or treating on their own, make sure that you’re able to educate them about things thoroughly they should and should not do to ensure their safety. Here are some things you should tell your child:
- Be courteous and respectful at all times.
- Do not approach unlit residences.
- Stay in areas you are familiar with.
- At intersections, use the crosswalks to go through traffic. There will be no crisscrossing to various residences.
- Be considerate of the landscaping preferences of others. Stay on the sidewalks.
- Trick or treat events usually begin at 6:00 p.m. and end at 8:00 p.m., depending on your time zone. The time it takes to finish varies depending on the neighborhood’s level of enthusiasm.
Safety Tips for Drivers During Halloween Night
It can be challenging to drive around the neighborhood during Halloween night. A lot of accidents happen because drivers fail to see children walking on the road at night. Here are some safety tips for drivers to avoid getting involved in an accident during Halloween night.
- On Halloween, be extra cautious behind the wheel.
- When driving through residential areas, take it easy and be extra cautious. Halloween elicits excitement in children, who may behave erratically.
- Spend more time scanning for children at intersections, medians, and along the curbs to avoid hitting them.
- Slowly and carefully make your way into and out of driveways and alleys.
- If you want to drive safely, you must be free of distractions. This includes your phone and other electronic devices.
- Increase the visibility of children by turning on your headlights earlier in the day.
- From 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. is prime time for trick-or-treating. Those are the hours when you should be on high alert for children.
Halloween should be a fun and memorable event for both the kids and their parents! Make sure to follow these tips to avoid getting involved in severe accidents and keep your kids safe during this spooky season.
