Safety First: Tips for Trick-or-Treaters on Halloween

The magic and trickery of Halloween is a childhood favorite that evokes nostalgia in parents. From the spine-chilling decorations to the creepy costumes, October 31 is a night full of fright. However, for parents, what’s even scarier is worrying about the safety of your children while they are out trick-or-treating.

According to the National Safety Council, children are more than twice as likely to be killed by a car while walking on Halloween night than at any other time of the year. As children take to the streets this Halloween, both parents and drivers need to know how best to keep our most vulnerable population safe.

But Halloween pedestrian crashes aren’t the only thing haunting the night. Instead of making Halloween the stuff of nightmares, make happy memories by recognizing the dangers your children face. 

Scary Halloween Statistics

• There are about 43% more pedestrian deaths on Halloween night than any other autumn night.
• Pedestrian accidents involving children age 4 to 8 tend to occur during trick-or-treat hours (6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.)
• Over 70% of Halloween pedestrian accidents occur away from an intersection or crosswalk.
• Children between the ages of 12-15 account for nearly one-third of all pedestrian fatalities on Halloween.
• On Halloween 2016, 46% of drunk-driving crashes involved the 21 to 34-year-old age group and accounted for the most fatalities. 

Guarantee Your Ghosts and Goblins Are Safe

As a parent or guardian of children who will be trick-or-treating this year, there are a few helpful hints to follow to ensure that your children have a hazard-free Halloween. Children are at a greater risk of being hit by a car because they are often so excited for the night that they forget their basic safety rules. In addition, children:

• Are smaller than adults and therefore less visible to drivers
• Have trouble judging distances and speeds
• Have little to no experience with traffic rules

Trick-or-treating doesn’t have to be risky. By following a few safety tips, you can keep your child safe from injuries.

Kids under 12 should always go trick-or-treating with an adult.

For more than just visibility purposes, children under the age of 12 should not be out at night without adult supervision. However, even children over the age of 12 may not have the maturity to trick-or-treat without an adult present. If you believe your child is mature enough to trick-or-treat without an adult this year, remind them to stick with their trick-or-treat group and stay in areas that are familiar and well-lit.

Use flashlights, glow sticks, and reflective treat bags.

Ensure your child’s safety by using glow sticks, flashlights, or reflective gear on treat bags or costumes to ensure that drivers can see them.

Stay on the sidewalk and off the road when possible.

It goes without saying that most accidents do not occur on sidewalks or in crosswalks. Trick-or-treaters should only cross the street at a designated crosswalk and stay on the sidewalk as much as possible.

Instruct your children to trick-or-treat on one side of the road at a time.

Don’t bounce from one side of the street to the other. People driving through neighborhoods don’t typically expect pedestrians to step out into the middle of the road halfway down a street. It’s best to plan out a route ahead of time, ensuring that you’re only crossing at corners and crosswalks.

Choose costumes that don’t obstruct your child’s vision.

It’s safer to choose costumes that do not cover your child’s face, such as masks, glasses, or large hats. These items can restrict your child’s hearing or vision while crossing the street. 

Put the devices down.

While walking, parents and their children should put the devices down. Cellphones are an excellent way for your older child to contact you while they are out trick-or-treating. However, cell phones can be a distraction and can lead to trips and falls. Please encourage your child to always be aware of his or her surroundings.

Halloween Driving

Remembering driver responsibility on Halloween is just as important as reminding trick-or-treaters to keep themselves safe on Halloween night. As children take to the streets for trick-or-treating, their risk of being injured by motorists significantly increases.

Halloween is considered one of several party nights. If you are drinking, don’t even think about driving. In addition, popular trick-or-treating hours are from 5:30 to 9:30. However, this ultimately depends on the area where you live. Check your local paper for your area’s specific times and use the information to remain alert during those hours. Drivers should always:

• Watch out for kids crossing mid-block
• Slow down
• Be alert
• Put devices down

Urban Legend vs. Common Sense

Halloween is no stranger to urban legends. While news reports may scare parents into believing that the world is out to trick their kiddos by doing things like giving them THC-infused gummies, parents usually don’t have much to worry about. Still, parents should be mindful of the dangers we often give very little thought to. 

Costume Safety

Costumes can cause several troubles for unsuspecting parents and children. To avoid last-minute costume adjustments, in the weeks leading up to Halloween, parents should ensure that their children’s costumes are:

• Fire-resistant. Polyester and nylon are both flame-resistant materials. When searching for a costume or wig for your child, always look for the “flame-resistant” label.
• An appropriate length. Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries for children ages 0 to 19. A child could easily trip over a long costume and break a bone. Ensure your child’s costume is the right length to prevent trips and falls.
• Non-toxic. Use non-toxic makeup on your child and always test a small area of their skin first to avoid severe allergic reactions. In addition, make sure you remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation.
• Visible. All black or dark-colored costumes are hard for drivers to see and can easily be lost in a crowd. Reflective tape and glowsticks can help with this issue.
• Non-restrictive. A child should be able to move freely while in their costumes. Additionally, masks should not restrict vision or the ability to breathe. Face paint is a safe alternative to wearing masks.

Stranger Danger Still Counts on Halloween

Remind your children to never go into a stranger’s home or car. In addition, your children should only travel in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends.

Wait to Eat Goodies

Your children should wait to get home before eating their candy. This may seem like an outdated idea, but there really are reasons to check your child’s candy. For example, young children may have choking hazards in their bags. Additionally, hand-made treats or treats that are not in commercial packaging should be immediately discarded.  

Parents should also inspect children’s treats for any signs of tampering, such as tears in wrapping and any unusual appearance or discoloration. Lastly, parents should check their child’s bags for candy that might cause an allergic reaction.

Teen Drinking on Halloween Night

Much of Halloween safety concerns young kids going door-to-door for candy. However, teens are just as capable of being injured on Halloween night. For teens, Halloween can mean a night of costume parties and free booze. In fact, Halloween is largely considered by many teens and young adults as one of the biggest drinking days of the year. From parent-sanctioned costume parties to secret parties, underage drinking is prevalent on Halloween night. 

While people ages 12 through 20 consume 11% of all alcohol in the United States, parents must understand that there is no such thing as underage drinking in a safe environment. Alcohol and the developing, impulsive teen mind don’t mix. In fact, alcohol puts teens at a greater risk of causing or experiencing severe injuries. For example, alcohol abuse can make perpetrators more likely to commit sexual assault and abuse. 

While many parents may be OK with their underage child drinking, it is important to remember that you are not the decider for other people’s children. If a tragedy strikes, such as a drunk driving crash, rape, or alcohol poisoning, you can be held liable for providing alcohol to minors. 

How The Carlson Law Firm Can Help

Here at The Carlson Law Firm, we are strong proponents of child safety—particularly child pedestrian safety. All too often, we see children who are injured because of negligent drivers. We urge you to make sure your child is as safe as possible on Halloween so that everyone can enjoy the holiday the way it is meant to be enjoyed.

If you, or someone you love, have been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact The Carlson Law Firm right away for a free, no-obligation, initial consultation.