Stay safe while remaining scary
Think of Halloween, think of fun. However, are you aware that approximately four times as many children aged 5-14 are killed while walking on Halloween evening compared with other evenings of the year? Falls are a leading cause of injuries among children on Halloween.
Parents can help prevent children from getting injured at Halloween by following these safety tips:
Children should:
• Go only to well-lit houses and remain at the door, never enter someone's home even if invited;
• Travel in small groups and be accompanied by an adult;
• Have names and addresses stitched to their costumes;
• Bring treats home before eating them so parents can inspect them in a good light;
• Use costume swords that are flexible, not rigid or sharp;
• Use torches and stay on pavements;
• Cross streets at the corner and do not cross between parked cars;
• Stop at all junctions and stay in a group before crossing;
• Wear clothing that is bright, reflective, and flame retardant;
• Consider using face paint instead of masks that can obstruct vision;
• Avoid wearing hats that will slide over their eyes;
• Avoid wearing long, baggy, or loose costumes or oversized shoes (to prevent tripping).
Parents and adults should:
• Supervise the outing for children under age 12;
• Establish a curfew (a return time) for older children and an area that they should remain in;
• Prepare homes for trick-or-treaters by clearing porches, lawns, and paths of any objects that could be tripped over;
• Place lit candles and any other naked flames or hot-to-the-touch items away from doorways and paths;
• Avoid giving choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys as treats to young children;
• Inspect all treats for safety before children eat it;
• Drive slowly, children can become excited to get to the next house and drop their concentration;
• Exit driveways carefully;
• Have children get out of cars on the curb side, not on the traffic side.
Pumpkin tips:
• Carve pumpkins on a stable, flat surface with good lighting;
• Have children draw a face on the outside of the pumpkin, then parents should do the cutting;
• Place lit pumpkins away from curtains and other flammable objects, and do not leave lit pumpkins unattended.
A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that during 1975-1996, the number of deaths among young pedestrians was four times higher on Halloween
evening when compared with the same time period during all other evenings of the year. Halloween
poses special risks to young pedestrians. For example, most of the time children spend outdoors is
typically during daylight hours. However, Halloween activities often occur after dark. Also, children
engaged in 'trick or treat' activities frequently cross streets at mid-street rather than at corners or
crossings, putting them at risk for pedestrian injury.
Many parents overestimate children's street-crossing skills. The pedestrian skills of children are
limited by several factors related to their physical size and developmental stage. For instance, young
children may lack the physical ability to cross a street quickly, and their small size limits their visibility
to drivers. Children are likely to choose the shortest rather than the safest route across streets, often
darting out between parked cars. In addition, young children do not evaluate potential traffic threats
effectively, cannot anticipate driver behavior, and process sensory information more slowly than adults.
