Halloween Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treaters of All Ages
It's that time of year again; Halloween is here! Get ready for hundreds of ghosts, ghouls, goblins, witches and monsters roaming your neighborhood. If you made it through Mischief Night, you can make it through Halloween. Tonight is one of the most dangerous nights of the year for children. From issues with candy to pedestrian safety; there are plenty of ways Halloween can turn tragic. Here are some important safety tips for trick-or-treaters of all ages.
Pedestrian Safety
Pedestrian safety is one of the most important aspects of Halloween. Did you know that on Halloween, children are more than twice as likely to be struck by a vehicle and killed compared to any other day of the year? To make matters worse, the month of October is the second deadliest month of the year when it comes to deaths related to motor vehicles, according to the National Safety Council.
Anyone out for trick-or-treating tonight should follow these simple tips to avoid being involved in a pedestrian-motor vehicle accident:
Use a flashlight
Walk, don't run, across the street
Cross at marked crosswalks
Follow traffic signals
Walk with head up to look for cars
Avoid using a mobile phone while walking
The Route
If you are not walking around with your child tonight, be sure to plan their route. It might be their first year going alone. You want to make sure they do not get lost. Knowing the route ahead of time will help you find your child if they do not return home by the agreed upon time. It's smart to plan a route even if you are going with your child. It helps them learn how to plan ahead, use a map, and stick to a plan. It also makes it easier getting them to return home once the route is completed. You very well know they will ask to go somewhere else for more candy!
Visiting Homes
It's important that your children should only visit homes that have lights on tonight. This is a longstanding tradition that lets trick-or-treaters know whether or not candy will be given out on Halloween. Never let your child enter the home when collecting candy. They should stay on the porch or front step at all times.
Driver Safety
If you have to get behind the wheel tonight, be on extra alert for children, especially at dusk and after sunset. Many costumes are dark, which makes it much more difficult for drivers to see kids walking around the neighborhood. Drive at least five miles less than the posted speed limit tonight.
Check the Candy
An adult should always check the candy prior to any child eating it. Parents should discard any loose candy, open candy, or candy that is unfamiliar. If you have young children, remove all candy that can be a choking hazard to them, such as M&Ms, Skittles, and other little pieces of candy.
We here at the Hunter's Heroes Foundation hope you have a safe and happy Halloween. Don't eat too much candy!
