Everyone loves a good scare on Halloween but not when it comes to safety. The harsh reality is that, on average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year, so make sure you take every safety precaution this October 31.
Trick-or-Treating
Outfit your trick-or-treater with a glow stick or flashlight with fresh batteries, but make clear to never shine its beam into the eyes of drivers. Instruct children to stay on sidewalks wherever possible and to look both ways before crossing streets.
Make sure that little revelers (and you) cross streets only at corners and never from between parked vehicles. Lastly, keep youngsters from indulging until after a trusted adult has inspected their trove of treats carefully.
Haunting the House
Never use electrical products outdoors that are marked for indoor use. You could get shocked—or worse.
Dried flowers, cornstalks, hay and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep them away from open flames and other heat sources, including lightbulbs and heaters. Always inspect each decoration before use and discard any with cracked, frayed or bare wires. Always turn off electrical decorations and extinguish any open flames before leaving home or going to bed. Use a flashlight or battery-operated candles in jack-o’-lanterns.
While Driving
Slow down in residential neighborhoods to at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit to give yourself extra time to react to children who may dart into the street.
Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs. Look for children crossing the street; they may not be paying attention to traffic and cross the street midblock or between parked cars. Turn on your headlights to make yourself more visible—even before the sun has set.
