Children, Halloween safety and Car Accidents

Halloween is such a fun time for children.  I remember waiting for Halloween for months before October 31st.  Picking out the costume, getting the biggest bag to trick or treat with and heading out the door. I grew up in a small town so everyone knew everyone so the safety of candy wasn't a big problem.  In fact, while I was growing up NOTHING about Halloween was a problem at all, except my brother stealing my candy because he was too old and "too cool" to go get his own.



Now that I am older I think about children and Halloween...and I think about my childhood Halloween days.  I was taught to look both ways before crossing the street EVERY DAY but I think I forgot this when a group of kids would say "hey, that house across the street has......" and we were off.

Let's not forget our costumes....some dark colors and others with masks.  So if we had masks on we couldn't see the cars coming and with dark costumes the cars couldn't see us.

According to the World Health Organization nearly a million children die each year from unintentional accidents and most of them are from car accidents.

So what can you do to keep your children safe?

• Talk to your children about safety on the streets.  AND no matter how much they understand, remember the excitement of the house across the street may be too much for them to remember.
• Have a responsible adult or older child go with them.
• Halloween costumes need to either be bright or have reflectors on them so vehicles can SEE them.
• Set boundaries for your children off busy streets.
• Send a flashlight with them.
• If wearing a mask please make sure they have clear vision AND they can hear out of the mask.
• Make sure all costumes fit the child.  Not too loose or too long so they don't trip.
• Make sure all children are in groups.
• Weather is tricky this time of year so be prepared for that cold winter night..dress warm.

Please remind children NOT to eat anything until you have been able to inspect the candy. 

With all these warning this needs to be a safe night for your child BUT it still needs to be FUN!!!!


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Children and Halloween Accidents

The Center for Disease Control says that children are four times more likely to be involved in a car/pedestrian car accident on Halloween than any other day of the year.  (Vincent Iannelli, M.D.)  





These statistics make sense but are senseless:  

• it gets darker sooner
• children are running around getting free candy
• children are often in costumes that are dark or do not have reflective colors on them
• children often wear masks and cannot "see" enough
• the list is endless of why

What can we do about it:

• Spread the word about the need for drivers to drive SLOW and pay extra attention
• PUT DOWN the cell phone
• Parents:  Drive or walk with your children trick or treating
• TALK to your children about safety
• Walk in large groups and cross the streets quickly and together
• Older children hold the hand of younger children AT ALL TIMES.  (This should be done when any young child crosses the street at anytime of the year)

I also want to suggest that children do not go out trick or treating during "rush hour" of people coming home from work.  Most people get off work at 5:00 PM, and let's be honest we are all tired when we come home from work.  Even though it is darker at 6:30 PM their will be less "non trick or treater vehicles) on the road.  There are also many Adult Halloween parties happening so try to be done with trick or treating by 8:00 PM. 

If we all spread the word, talk about the dangers with each other and our children, proceed with caution we can reduce the number of children hurt on Halloween by car accidents.

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