Halloween Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treaters

 Posted on October 25, 2017 in Personal Injury

Over the next week or so, children throughout the Bay Area will take to the streets dressed as comic book superheroes, movie characters, spooky creatures and more. Trick-or-treating on Halloween, for many families, is a tradition that traces back several generations, and as October draws to a close, the excitement begins to grow. Amidst the fun, sweets, tricks, and treats, however, accidents can and do happen, and it is important for you and your young ones to stay safe this Halloween.

Plan Ahead

As a parent, you may have spent hours, days, and even weeks preparing costumes for your children. Yet when trick-or-treating time rolls around those same parents often do not have a plan for where to go or how long to stay out. Decide ahead of time which parts of your neighborhood you would like to visit. If your children want to trick-or-treat in another part of town—near a family member or friend, for example—it is a good idea to drive through that neighborhood a few times. Check out the area both during daylight hours and at dusk so you can identify any potentially dangerous intersections while understanding what your children will be seeing as the sun sets. 

Adult Supervision Required

Young children should never be permitted to go trick-or-treating without an adult to supervise. It is up to you to decide how old is old enough to go alone, but if your children are going without you, know where they are headed and for how long. Reinforce the normal rules for crossing streets, and remind your children to put their phones down while they are walking. A moment of distraction while crossing a busy intersection could be disastrous.

Lights, Masks, and Reflective Clothing

In some areas and depending on the weather, it may get dark during trick-or-treat hours. Be sure your costumed children are visible to passing cars by applying reflective tape to their clothing and treat bags. Flashlights or glow sticks may also be appropriate.

Some store-bought children’s costumes include masks and other headware. Any masks that could slip and restrict a child’s vision should be left at home. Face paint and other novelties may provide a suitable alternative. Or, consider allowing your child to carry the mask and to put it on only while at the door of each house he or she visits.

Your children should also be reminded not to eat any of their treats until they get home. It is equally important to teach them never to enter the home or car of a stranger, no matter how friendly the stranger may seem.

Happy Halloween!

By following a few simple rules, you and your family should be able to enjoy the Halloween festivities safely, but all it takes is one attentive driver to turn a celebration into a catastrophe. If you or a loved one is injured by another person’s negligence while trick-or-treating or at any other time of the year, contact an experienced San Jose personal injury attorney for help. Call 408-293-7777 for a free consultation today. In the meantime, our firm would like to wish you and your family a happy and safe Halloween.

Sources:

http://www.nsc.org/learn/safety-knowledge/Pages/halloween-safety.aspx