Halloween Safety Tips for Parents and Kids | Dolan Law Firm
Halloween safety tips for parents and kids can help families prepare for a safer night of trick-or-treating. Halloween brings more children and families onto neighborhood streets, often after dark, increasing the importance of pedestrian safety.
According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, pedestrian fatality risk was 43% higher on Halloween evenings compared with similar evenings one week before and after Halloween. The research examined U.S. pedestrian fatalities from 1975 through 2016 and highlights the importance of protecting children from traffic-related injuries.
Parents, children, and drivers can take simple precautions to reduce the risk of accidents. The following Halloween safety recommendations are based on guidance from Safe Kids Worldwide.
Halloween Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips for Kids
Parents should review these pedestrian safety reminders before heading out for Halloween festivities:
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Supervise younger children. Children younger than 12 should be accompanied by an adult when trick-or-treating and crossing streets.
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Use sidewalks whenever possible. When sidewalks are unavailable, pedestrians should face approaching traffic and stay as far from vehicles as possible.
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Cross streets carefully. Use intersections, pedestrian signals, and crosswalks when available. Be especially mindful of vehicles making turns or backing out of driveways.
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Look before crossing. Check both directions, look again for approaching vehicles, and continue watching traffic until safely across. Children should walk rather than run into the street.
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Stay attentive. Put away phones and other distractions while walking near traffic. Children should avoid stepping into the roadway between parked vehicles.
Halloween Driving Safety Tips
Drivers should exercise additional caution on Halloween, particularly in residential neighborhoods where children may be trick-or-treating.
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Reduce your speed. Young pedestrians may be excited or distracted and could enter the roadway unexpectedly.
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Watch for increased pedestrian traffic. Pay attention near intersections, parked vehicles, sidewalks, and residential driveways.
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Turn on headlights early. Using headlights as daylight fades can help motorists identify pedestrians sooner.
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Avoid distracted driving. Keep your attention on the roadway and remove distractions that could prevent you from noticing a child nearby.
Halloween costumes can also make it difficult for children to see approaching vehicles. Drivers should remain especially attentive during evening trick-or-treating hours.
Halloween Costume and Candy Safety Tips
Choosing appropriate costumes and inspecting Halloween treats are additional ways parents can help protect their children.
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Improve costume visibility. Consider bright or light-colored clothing and add reflective materials to costumes and candy bags so children are more noticeable to drivers.
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Choose makeup instead of restrictive masks. Masks may interfere with a child's ability to see surrounding traffic. Select face paint or makeup labeled as non-toxic.
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Avoid sharp costume accessories. Props such as swords, sticks, or other pointed objects can create unnecessary injury risks.
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Carry a flashlight or glow stick. Portable lights can improve children's visibility while walking after dark. Remind children not to bite, break, or open glow sticks because their contents can cause irritation.
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Inspect Halloween candy. Parents should examine treats before children eat them and discard items with damaged, opened, or suspicious packaging.
Taking precautions before and during trick-or-treating can help families enjoy Halloween while reducing preventable pedestrian accidents and childhood injuries.
Injured in a Halloween Pedestrian Accident? Contact Dolan Law Firm
Halloween should be a time for children and families to enjoy their communities safely. Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents can happen even when families take precautions. If your child or a loved one has been injured by a negligent driver while trick-or-treating, the experienced California pedestrian accident attorneys at Dolan Law Firm can evaluate the circumstances of the accident and discuss your legal options. Our firm represents injured individuals and families throughout California, including San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, and Redondo Beach. For a free, confidential case evaluation, contact Dolan Law Firm today or dial #4HELP (#44357) from your mobile phone to connect with our legal team.