Halloween Safety Tips

It’s time again for what may arguably be every child’s favorite holiday. Halloween, aside from the debate over its roots, undeniably combines the fun of dressing up in costume with the thrill of visiting people’s houses for tons of free sweet treats. The excitement that comes from disguising yourself as someone (or something) else and getting candy as a reward for doing it stays with many people for a lifetime. Make sure this year’s memories are good ones by following a few safety measures that can help keep the night from becoming a nightmare. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrians account for about one of every four people killed in crashes each year on Halloween, which is double the average for an ordinary day. To help keep your ghouls and goblins safe on one of the deadliest nights of the year for pedestrians, teach them to:

• Cross the street only at corners, using crosswalks and traffic signals.
• Look left, right and left again when crossing and don’t stop being aware of vehicles as you cross.
• Put their phones away, keep their heads up and walk (don’t run) across the street.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
• Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
• Watch for cars that are turning or backing up.
• Hold hands with younger trick-or-treaters and help them cross safely.

You can improve your child’s trick-or-treat experience by choosing the right size costume to prevent trips and falls, using face paint or makeup instead of masks to increase their field of vision, removing any sharp edges from props, and putting reflective tape on their costume or giving them a flashlight to increase their visibility. Go door-to-door with your elementary school-aged children to ensure they don’t go into strangers’ houses or cars. If for some reason you won’t be accompanying your child, know their planned route, their group of friends, and explain the difference between funny tricks and destructive vandalism. Other Halloween safety tips include:

• Don’t let kids eat candy until you have a chance to examine it. Throw away any treat that is homemade by someone you don’t know, is a choking hazard or is not completely wrapped. Serve your kids a filling meal beforehand so they won’t be as tempted to snack before the candy can be inspected.
• Pets often find masks scary and are unsettled by so many strangers coming to the door. They are also easy targets for unsavory characters. Keep all animals inside and away from the chocolate!
• Don’t allow use of decorative contact lenses. They can cause harmful eye infections.
• Use markers, stickers or paint instead of carving pumpkins. Kids and knives don’t mix.
• If you choose to light your jack-o-lantern, use a battery-operated or votive candle and place the pumpkin on a sturdy table away from small children.
• Check your own door for tripping hazards and adequate lighting. Nothing puts a damper on holiday fun faster than a personal injury.

Everyone at the Johnson Law Firm wishes our community and Kentuckians everywhere a safe and spooky Halloween. While we hope that the celebration passes without incident, we are here if you need us. Personal injuries don’t observe the calendar. If you have any questions about this topic, you can find out more by discussing it with one of the attorneys at the Pikeville, KY-based Johnson Law Firm. Contact us by calling 606-437-4488 or using our online form.