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Halloween is fast approaching and with the ease of pandemic restrictions, trick-or-treating could be back on this year.
We've taken a look at why experts dub Halloween as the most dangerous night of the year for kids. To keep your kids safe, we've also rounded out some safety tips from Safe Kids Worldwide. These tips cover how to cross the street, costumes, the role of communication, and safe driving.
According to Protect America, Halloween is the deadliest day of the year for children between the ages of one and 18.
That is mostly because of pedestrian incidents, drunk driving accidents, slip and fall accidents, and burn injuries. Children are twice as likely to be killed in an accident involving a motor vehicle on Halloween than any other night of the year.
With more people on the road and walking about, crosswalks and intersections are extremely dangerous.
65% of parents forget to go over safety tips with their children. To make sure your kids are safe, we've put together some safety tips for you to communicate to them.
Pedestrian incidents are the most dangerous when it comes to Halloween. When you're talking to your kids about trick-or-treating safety, crossing the street properly should be a priority. Communication is key.
Make sure your children know to the cross the street at corners. They should always look left and right before crossing. Children should continue to look as you make your way across the street.
Kids are all about their devices these days- tablets, cellphones, etc. When it comes to trick-or-treating, make sure their devices are down when they're crossing the street. This ensures they're not distracted and can look both ways before crossing.
You should also talk to your kids about walking, not running when crossing the street. Not darting out in the road, gives drivers the time to react and see your child, preventing an unnecessary incident. You can also teach your kids not to cross the street between cars, giving drivers the ability to see your child making their way into the road.
When trick-or-treating, always walk on the sidewalk or paths. If you can't, make sure you're walking on the left side of the road so you can see oncoming traffic, and they can see you.
Dressing up is the best part of Halloween. While we might not realize it, costumes can directly impact safety. 82% of parents fail to include any visibility aids on their kids' costumes.
If possible, decorate your kids' costumes and candy bags with reflective tape and/or stickers.
An ill-fitting costume could cause your kid to trip and fall so make sure they have the right size.
Costume masks can obstruct your child's vision if it doesn't fit properly. When you can, use face paint and makeup instead.
Give your kids glow sticks or flashlights to help them see when it gets dark.
Communication and safety go hand in hand.
A lot of parents let their kids go trick-or-treating without them once they reach a certain age. However, being able to communicate with them is important to their safety.
Use a set of Midland's walkie talkies to make communication seamless and efficient. They're easy to use so kids and their friends will be able to figure them out. You don't have to worry about a lack of cell service or cell towers getting overwhelmed because handheld radios are reliable in any element. Communication has never been easier.
Several of Midland's walkie talkies come in three packs. That way you can divide up the communication devices in the way that works best for the family.
We recommend you check out Midland's X-TALKER T51X3VP3 Walkie Talkie Three Pack and the X-TALKER T31X3VP Walkie Talkie Three Pack. These radios are easy to use so the whole family will be able to figure them out. The radio range is just far enough to communicate with your kids and loved ones within the neighborhood as they search for the best candy.
Drivers play an important role in Halloween safety as pedestrian incidents contribute to deaths every year.
The most dangerous hour of Halloween for driving and pedestrian accidents is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Trick-or-treating typically takes place in between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. so drivers should pay extra attention during this time frame.
It's important people drive as safely as possible, especially when in neighborhoods or residential areas.
Slow down. Children might not know how to properly cross the street and could move in unpredictable ways.
Crosswalks and corners are dangerous for pedestrians on Halloween so be sure to take extra time to look for kids both ways.
Distracted driving is an issue on all days of the year, but with a sharp increase in pedestrians, it's imperative drivers aren't looking down at their phones or other devices.
It starts to get darker earlier during the fall so you can always turn on your headlights earlier in the day to spot kids further away.
