Suncoast Safety Tips: Halloween Safety

Did you know children aged 5 to 14 are almost four times as likely to be killed while walking on Halloween night as compared with other evenings of the year?

Falls and traffic incidents are among leading cause of injuries among children on Halloween. Parents can help prevent children from getting injured at Halloween by using a little common sense and closely supervising school-aged children during their trick-or-treat activities. Below, are some quick Halloween Safety tips parents should use when trick-or-treating this Halloween:

Children should:

• Plan your routes and make sure everyone knows where you are going.
  
• Go only to well-lit houses and remain on porches never enter a strangers house.
  
• Travel in small groups and always be supervised by an adult or teenager.
  
• Know your phone number and carry coins for emergency telephone calls.
  
• Have their names and addresses and phone numbers attached to their costumes incase they are separated from the group.
  
• Always bring treats home before eating them so parents can inspect them.
  
• If costume knives and swords are used, be sure they are flexible, not rigid or sharp to help avoid injury.

When walking in neighborhoods, they should:

• Use flashlights, stay on sidewalks, and avoid crossing yards where unseen tripping hazards can be.
  
• Cross streets at the corner, use crosswalks (where they exist), and never cross between parked cars.
  
• Stop at all corners and stay together in a group before crossing.
  
• Be sure all costumes are bright, reflective, and flame retardant.
  
• Consider using face paint instead of masks that can obstruct a child's vision.
  
• Avoid wearing hats, they can slide over a child's eyes.
  
• Avoid wearing long, baggy, or loose costumes or oversized shoes that can be tripped over.
  
• When crossing the street always look left, right, and left again.

Parents and adults should:

• Always supervise the events for children under age 12.
  
• Have a pre-determined curfew (a return time) for older children.
  
• Prepare your homes for trick-or-treaters by clearing porches, lawns, and sidewalks and by placing jack-o-lanterns away from doorways and landings.
  
• Never give choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys as treats to young children.
  
• Always inspect all candy and treats for before your children eat it.
  
• Make sure children under age 10 are supervised as they cross the street.
  
• Drive slowly.
  
• Watch for children in the street and on medians.
  
• Exit driveways and alleyways carefully.
  
• Have children get out of cars on the curb side, not on the traffic side.
  
  

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