Keeping Kids Safe: Halloween

by Steve Bulzomi

Halloween is one of the top three holidays that produce the most ER visits.  Finger and hand injuries account for the greatest proportion of injuries during the holiday.  Among those injuries, most are lacerations and fractures, with children ages ten through fourteen years of age sustaining the most injuries.

As a law firm that deals with accidents and injuries on a daily basis we thought it would be wise to talk about how to keep our children safe on Halloween.

Younger children should always be accompanied by an adult.  If your kids are older and will be going Trick or Treating without adult supervision, you might want to remind them of the following:

• Never, ever go into a stranger’s house or car.  If for some reason this happens, tell your child to scream as loud as they can to draw attention, and run away if possible.
• Trick-or-treaters should only approach houses that are well lit. Be aware of neighborhood dogs when trick-or-treating and remember that these pets can impose a threat when you near their home.
•  Kids should always use the sidewalks and not walk in the streets.  They should use caution when crossing the street because they may be hard for drivers to see.  They also shouldn’t cut across lawns or driveways.
• Remind them that there is safety in numbers, so make sure they don’t trick or treat alone.  Have them go in a group and make sure they stay together.
•   Tell them to have their cell phones charged and on.
•  Set a curfew and tell them to call immediately if they will be delayed.
• Make sure they know the difference between tricks and vandalism

Costume Safety:

•   Costumes should be easy to move in and fireproof or treated with fire retardant. 
•  If wearing a mask of any kind, eye holes should be large enough for good peripheral vision.    Make sure your child’s costume won’t cause a tripping hazard while walking.
•  Children should wear sturdy, comfortable, slip-resistant shoes to avoid falls.
• Smooth down all sharp points on props such as fake swords as to not cause injury to themselves or others.
• It’s also a good idea for them to wear a glow stick, reflector, flashing lights or jewelry or to carry a flashlight so they’re more noticeable to cars.

Candy Safety:

• Tell your kids not to eat any candy until they bring it home for you to inspect.
• Throw out all homemade treats to err on the side of caution.
• Have them bring an extra plastic bag in case their candy bag gets to heavy or breaks.

Know what route your child is travelling, where else they might be going, and with whom they're going.

Follow this advice and your child is sure to have a fun and safe Halloween.

Sources:

Jamestown Sun

PRN Newswire