More than 40 million children will trick-or-treat nationwide. For today’s children, Halloween has become less about ghosts, ghouls or monsters and more about wearing the best costume and collecting the most candy. Did you know that twice as many child pedestrians are killed on Halloween night than on any other night of the year? Between 1990 and 2010, there were 115 pedestrians under the age of 18 killed on October 31st. That is roughly 5.5 deaths each Halloween. It is a scary statistic that can be prevented. New Hope would like to share a few helpful tips to help you and your loved ones stay safe this Halloween.
Trick-or-Treat Safety
- Make sure you are accompanied by an adult when trick-or-treating.
- Add reflective tape to your costume or the bag you are using to carry candy.
- Carry a flashlight with new batteries.
- Be careful when crossing streets, even in your own neighborhood. Rather than cutting through yards, use designated crosswalks and always look both ways before your feet leave the sidewalk.
Parent Awareness
- Children will be anxious to stuff themselves with treats, insist that all treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten.
- Know the route your kids will be taking if you aren’t going with them. Instruct your children to travel in familiar, well-lit areas. Make sure they have a cell phone to check in with you on a regular basis.
- As terrifying as it may seem, but it is reality, get on the internet and check your local state website for sex offenders. Type in your zip code and you should be provided with names and addresses. Inform your child to stay away from these houses.
- Assist your young child in picking out their costume. Make sure it is fire proof and treated with fire retardant. If they are wearing a mask of any kind, make sure that the eye holes are large enough for good peripheral vision.
Homeowner/Renter Safety
- Make sure your home is well-lit and visitors can find their way to your front door safely.
- Remove pumpkins and other decorations from walkways so they won’t be touched or knocked over.
- Halloween unfortunately is a time of year when vicious people cause the most harm to animals. To protect your cats and dogs, refrain from leaving them unattended outside for long periods of time.
- If you are hosting a party and you have a friendly pet, to prevent any accidents from happening, place your pet in a room where they won’t be disturbed. This will not only protect your guests, but will also protect your animal from any bodily harm or accidently slipping out an open door.
Whether you are staying in and passing out candy or taking your child out trick or treating, we all want the same thing; to have a safe and happy Halloween!
To learn more about Halloween and how to stay safe visit Halloween-Safety.com.
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