Halloween is right around the corner and people are excited to celebrate in person after last year’s socially distanced celebration. As the excitement to pick out costumes and carve pumpkins builds, it’s important to keep safety in mind.
Unfortunately, children are twice as likely to be struck and killed by a vehicle on Halloween than on any other day of the year. We at Hancock Injury Attorneys value the safety of pedestrians every day and want to provide helpful information that will guide you and your family to have a safe, spooky, and fun Halloween!
Halloween Costumes
Helping your child make smart costume choices is an important part of Halloween safety. Before your child makes their final costume decision, remember these tips:
Wear Face Paint Instead of Masks
Costume masks can limit your child’s range of visibility, especially if their mask slips out of place. Have them wear non-toxic face paint instead. Always do a skin test before painting your child’s face to make sure that they don’t have an adverse reaction. You can do a skin test by using face paint on a small patch of your child’s skin.
The More Bright and Colorful the Better
If other trick-or-treaters, pedestrians, and drivers can’t see your child in the dark while they trick-or-treat, then that puts your child at risk of danger. The brighter and more colorful your child’s costume is, the safer they’ll be when they’re trick-or-treating. For added safety, you can include a strip of reflective tape in your child’s costume or their candy bag.
Limit Amount of Accessories
Certain costume accessories can pose tripping and other safety risks. The most obvious culprits are pointed props like wands, swords, and knives, which can cause injury to your child and others around them. Additionally, long dresses, skirts, and pants, or oversized accessories and costumes will almost certainly cause a tripping hazard for your child.
Trick-Or-Treating
Trick-or-treating is the most fun but most potentially dangerous Halloween activity. Follow these tips to ensure a safe trick-or-treating experience:
Join in on the Halloween Fun
Children under the age of 12 should be accompanied by an adult while trick-or-treating. While children over the age of 12 may want to trick-or-treat on their own, they should be encouraged to go trick-or-treating with friends, parents, or older siblings. Always make sure one person in the group of trick-or-treaters has a working flashlight, cell phone, and a safety plan in case of emergency. By joining your child and their friends, or ensuring your child is with a trusted adult/group of friends, you are reducing their risk of becoming injured.
Have Ground Rules
Plan a familiar route and set a curfew if your child is trick-or-treating without you. Remind them to stay on the sidewalk and to only approach well-lit houses. Simple safety rules can be the difference between a fun-filled night and an unsafe night.
Inspect Treats Before Eating
Throw out any candies that aren’t sealed, have ripped packaging, or otherwise, look questionable. Make sure to check candy labels carefully if your child has food allergies, many candies include nuts, soy, etc. Avoid choking hazards by supervising children while eating candy and monitoring the portion size of their consumption.
Tampa Pedestrian Lawyers: Hancock Injury Attorneys
If a careless driver injures you or your child this Halloween, contact a Tampa pedestrian accident lawyerfor help. Attorneys Mike and Claire Hancock can assist you and your family seek compensation for your losses and get back on your feet. For a free case consultation, contact us online or call us at (813) 901-1110.
We at Hancock Injury Attorneys hope you and your family stay safe this Halloween!
