Halloween safety tips should be considered to reduce your child’s risk of injury when out trick-or-treating. Halloween is the holiday that seems to break all the rules that parents try to instill in their children. Don’t talk to strangers and don’t take candy from people you don’t know are rules that go right out the window on Halloween. With all the excitement and change in routine for this one-off evening a year, eager children looking to fill their bags with candy can forget common street sense and etiquette. That’s why it’s important for parents to make sure that their children are seen and safe this Halloween. Read this week’s blog article for some important Halloween safety tips!
A child trick-or-treats on Halloween.
Halloween Safety Tips
Many parents aren’t aware that participating in the Halloween activity of trick-or-treating can be risky. Stats state that 1 out of 10 pedestrian injury-related traffic accidents involve children aged 6 to 15 years old and happen between 3 pm and 7 pm. Both this time frame and age group are the ideal ages and time trick-or-treating. On October 31st there are more children on the road at a time when visibility is not at it’s best. Children also are excited and as a result, may be less attentive to their surroundings and traffic. It is for these reasons that parents should follow the Halloween safety tips below to help keep their children seen and safe on Halloween.
Seen and Safe – Important Halloween Safety Tips
- Make sure children who are trick-or-treating are accompanied by an adult.
- Remind children that they need to follow street rules while trick-or-treating. Remind children to look both ways before crossing the street. Encourage them to walk not run. Help children cross the road at spots that are visible to motorists. For example, at a cross-walk and not from behind or between cars.
- Ensure that children have reflective tape or stickers on their costumes in order to be more visible so they are kept seen and safe by motorists.
- Have trick-or-treaters carry flashlights or glowsticks.
- Avoid cosmetic costume contact lenses. Not only cosmetic costume lenses bad for the health of the eyes, but they can also impair and obscure vision.
- Avoid masks and costumes that obscure and restrict head movement.
As a homeowner who is expecting little trick-or-treaters, make sure that your home’s exterior is well lit. Make sure that the path to your door is free of objects that can pose to be a tripping hazard.
Follow these easy Halloween safety tips you will ensure that your little trick-or-treater has a better chance at being safe and seen. Happy Halloween!
Article was written by Trina Vanaalst, Licensed Contact Lens Practitioner and Optician.