Halloween is a fun-filled time for children, but there are many dangers associated with the holiday unrelated to ghouls, goblins and witches. The health care professionals at Regional One Health offer tips to ensure both adults and kids have a safe and fun Halloween.
Adults need to take the necessary precautions to make sure children remain safe while still having fun. Motorists need to be especially alert due to the high number of child pedestrians out in communities on Halloween.
Halloween Safety Tips for Motorists
- All motorists need to be especially alert and cautious when driving on Halloween because of the high number of pedestrians walking the streets.
- Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
- Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
- At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.
- Never use your cell phone while driving.
- Discourage teens from driving on Halloween. There are too many hazards and distractions for inexperienced drivers.
Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips
- Children under the age of 12 should be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.
- Instruct your children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and avoid trick-or-treating alone.
- Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home.
- Teach your children to never enter a stranger’s home.
- Agree on a specific time for your children to come home.
- Give your children flashlights with fresh batteries to help them see and for others to see them.
- Make sure your child or a responsible adult with them carries a cell phone for quick communication.
- Review all appropriate pedestrian and traffic safety rules with your children.
- Look both ways before crossing the street and use established crosswalks whenever possible.
- Walk, do not run, from house to house.
- Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can present tripping hazards and never walk near lit candles or luminaries.
- Walk on sidewalks, not in the street. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the far edge of the road facing traffic.
Source: National Safety Council