Soon our neighborhoods will be filled with ghosts, goblins, witches and more as they take to the streets in search of tricks and treats. But Halloween is one of the most dangerous holidays for child pedestrians. They are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween. To help ensure your kids have a fun and safe holiday, consider these tips:
- Make sure drivers can see costumes in the dark. Be original with a glow-in-the-dark costume or a reflective trick-or-treat bag. Children should use a flashlight or glow stick when walking at night.
- Trick-or-treat in a group, not alone. Kids younger than 13 should go with an adult. Older kids always should go with buddies and follow a preplanned route.
- Remind kids to cross streets at crosswalks and intersections, stop at street corners, look left, right and left again before crossing. They should not cross between parked cars or step into the street without looking to see if a vehicle is coming.
- Children should trick-or-treat only during your community’s predetermined hours.
- Kids should only visit homes of people they know and only to accept treats at the door.
Drivers also need to do their part to keep trick-or-treaters safe from harm.
- Be especially alert. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are during the typical rush-hour period, between 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Slow down — expect a lot of pedestrian traffic.
- Drive with your full headlights on so you can spot children from greater distances.
Check kids’ treats before they eat them. Tell kids to pick only wrapped candy when they trick-or-treat.
- Make sure costumes fit properly. Costumes should be large enough to allow warm clothes underneath, but short enough to prevent tripping. Do not allow children to wear adult shoes or boots.
- For the little superheros, be sure to fasten capes with Velcro® that easily pulls apart. Never tie capes or other costume pieces around a child’s neck.
- Also, close and lock windows so children do not attempt to open and jump from them; explain the difference between what people do on television or movies and what they can do in real life.
- Use facial paints and cosmetics in place of masks. If a mask is used, make certain the eye and nose openings do not restrict vision or breathing. Children should remove masks in between trick-or-treating stops.
For more information about pedestrian safety, including interactive games parents and children can play together, go to BlueKids.org/KohlsCares.
–Libbe Slavin, Safe Kids Wisconsin Coalition