Take steps to keep children safe on Halloween

Kids and adults alike love Halloween and everything that goes with it, from scary, creepy or super creative costumes to trick or treating and haunted houses, but there are some safety tips to keep in mind while you’re out having fun.

Did you know on Halloween children are twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed than any other day of the year? According to the National Safety Council, 3,700 children died in vehicle related accidents in October, 2017, most of which occured on Halloween.

That doesn’t mean you should keep your little ghouls at home, though, you just need to take a few extra precautions to keep them safe.

For instance, make sure their costumes, wigs and accessories are fire resistant. If they are wearing a mask, check to ensure they can see properly and that it doesn’t obstruct their vision.

If your superhero is going out after dark reflective tape, either on their costume or their trick or treat bag, is an excellent idea. You might even think about inexpensive glow sticks for them to carry or sew into their costume.

Of course, an adult should always be with younger children as they prowl the neighborhood for sugary treats, but if your older children are going on their own, plan an acceptable route ahead of time and agree on a specific time when they must be home.

Talk with your princess about staying in well-lit areas and stick with their friends, too. Remind them to put their phones down, pay attention to their surroundings, and never, ever dash out into the street.

Drivers need to be extra cautious, too.

Keep an eye out for the fairies and Pokemon as you drive through your neighborhood and especially as you’re backing out of your driveway. Watch for kids who are wearing dark clothing, especially at twilight and once it gets dark.

Inexperienced teen drivers like to go out and create a little mischief on Halloween, too, but they should be especially cautious with all the spooks running around. Put down your phone and pay close attention.

Once they all come home with their stash, parents should carefull check all of their candy before letting them dig in.

For smaller children, watch for candy that may be a choking hazard such as hard candies. Make sure everything is wrapped properly and if your child has allergies to certain things, like peanuts, for example, remove those immediately.

Remind your trick or treaters not to eat any of the candy from their bags until they get home and mom or dad has had a chance to look it all over.

Unfortunately, while many of us are out enjoying the evening, vandals and thieves are out doing their thing, too.

If you have a garage, consider parking inside for the night. If you don’t have a garage, make sure your car is locked and no valuables are left inside. Keep things out of sight in your car so as not to give them an extra incentive to break in.

Most of all, be safe, have fun, and Happy Halloween!