Halloween is a fun and creative time for both children and parents, but it is also a night for families to pay extra attention to safety, Newswise reported.
Pedestrian Risks and Traffic Hazards on Halloween Night
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that pedestrian-related fatalities among children increase significantly on Halloween. Kids between the ages of 5 and 14 face a risk of being struck and killed by a motor vehicle that is 4½ times higher during this particular evening than on any other night throughout the entire year. A study published in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics indicates this risk is even higher for children between the ages of 4 and 8.
To help families handle these dangers, Helen Arbogast, PhD, MPH, from CHLA’s Injury Prevention Program outlined practical steps to prevent injuries. Visibility remains a core concern as families head outdoors during popular trick-or-treating hours between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Arbogast recommends decorating costumes and trick-or-treat bags with reflective tape or stickers, and ensuring costumes are flame-retardant and fit properly without oversized shoes, high heels, or long skirts that could cause a child to fall. Children should carry glow sticks or flashlights so motorists, e-bike riders, and motorized scooter riders can spot them clearly.
Masks can obstruct a child’s vision and increase the risk of injury, so experts advise using face paint or makeup instead. Non-prescription decorative contact lenses should be avoided entirely, as they may contain toxic dyes or inferior plastic that can lead to eye infections. Props like swords and wands should be left out of costumes; whenever a wand or sword is required, secure it in a belt carrier to keep the accessory safely tucked away.
Keep Children Safe on Lit Sidewalks
Establishing clear rules of the road keeps families safe while walking through neighborhoods. Children should never enter a stranger’s house under any circumstances, and parents should plan a well-lit path that always uses the sidewalk.
Children should stay in a group while adults monitor their route and stop at intersections to practice looking both ways. Pedestrians must always walk rather than run when crossing a street, using established crosswalks instead of crossing between parked cars or out of driveways where drivers may have trouble seeing them.
Beyond standard automobiles, families must watch for high-speed e-bikes and motorized scooters. Some e-bikes can travel 40 miles per hour while remaining very quiet, posing a hazard when riders travel on sidewalks during trick-or-treating hours.
Parents driving alongside their children need to minimize distractions by turning down music, keeping headlights on, and driving slowly while scanning sidewalks, medians, and curbs for unpredictable pedestrian movement.
Check Treats for Tampering at Home
Before any treats are consumed, parents should check them at home for signs of tampering such as small pinholes in wrappers or torn or loose packages. Households with young children should get rid of choking hazards like gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.
Poison Control can be reached at 1-800-222-1222 if costume makeup or toys are swallowed. Homeowners can also prevent accidents on their own property by clearing trip and slip hazards from walkways, being mindful of extension cord placement, and replacing burned-out outdoor bulbs before visitors arrive.
