Halloween is a night filled with the fun of dressing up and the excitement of receiving an enormous amount of candy while trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. But with this spirited holiday right around the corner and the planning of costumes already underway, it’s important not to overlook an essential aspect of many children’s favorite night of the year: safety.
Roughly more than 41 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 will walk the streets across the nation on Halloween night, increasing the need for parents to accompany their younger children as they make their way through the neighborhoods.
One of the biggest risks while trick-or-treating is motor vehicle incidents — according to the National Safety Council, October ranks No. 2 in motor vehicle deaths by month in the U.S. Halloween creates situations of lack of visibility because of dim lighting or dark clothing, pedestrians improperly crossing roads and intersections, and children darting across streets as they run from house to house. To help prevent such incidents from occurring, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children wearing costumes that are bright and reflective and adding reflective tape or striping to their costumes or candy bags to allow for better visibility.
Below are additional tips to help ensure your child remains safe during this year’s night of trick-or-treating.
- Consider taking a flashlight with you in case there are parts of the street that are not well lit.
- If you are not accompanying an older child, plan and discuss an established route for him or her to follow, and determine a specific time your child should be back home.
- Remind your child to stay on sidewalks and only to trick-or-treat at homes with porch lights on.
- Discuss with your child the importance of never trick-or-treating alone and never entering into a stranger’s home or car while out trick-or-treating.
- Make sure all parts of your child’s costume are fire-resistant.
- Use nontoxic makeup, and be sure to test it prior to Halloween night to ensure it doesn’t cause skin irritation.
- Check all of your child’s candy (especially younger children) prior to him or her eating it.
Practicing these guidelines can help make Halloween a night you and your children can all enjoy without having extra stress about safety concerns. And don’t forget to join us on Friday, October 27, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Fairmont’s Historic Anaheim Campus for our Halloween Haunt event!