For families, few nights are more fun than Halloween. The decorating, the costumes, and the candy all make the evening an unforgettable experience for kids and adults alike. Unfortunately, Halloween also presents many unique dangers. The good news is that with proper planning and preparation most Halloween safety hazards can be avoided! To help you prepare for the Halloween season this year, here is a list of recommended Halloween safety tips.
Halloween costumes can be flammable and fire hazards. Many parents are not aware of this fact. Specifically, you want to avoid sending your trick-or-treater out on Halloween night with a loose, dangling costume. With all the jack-o-lanterns on porches and other spooky decorations, children are likely to encounter open flames when going from door to door gathering treats.
Face paint and contact lenses can be dangerous for children. If you are using these products, please make sure that you have obtained a child-safe version. Children’s skin and eyes can be especially sensitive.
Make sure that your children’s Halloween costumes do not create a tripping hazard and prevent them from being able to walk without the risk of falling. Tripping and slipping accidents are among the most common accidents to occur on Halloween night. Sadly, these types of fall accidents can result in serious injuries.
It is strongly advised that you supervise your children’s pumpkin carving. When sharp objects such as carving knives are out, a responsible adult should always be present.
Safe pumpkin carving requires some real planning. Take the time to set up a clean, spacious area to ensure that you have enough room to carve pumpkins.
As a general rule, young children should not touch any of the carving tools. Of course, you want to let them participate in the fun of pumpkin carving, but let them pick out the designs and scoop out the inside of the pumpkin instead of handling the knife.
Do not let your children trick or treat in unknown neighborhoods. You should supervise your children’s trick-or-treating activities, and you should plan the route in advance. If a house does not look safe or gives you an uneasy feeling, skip it and go somewhere else. There is no need to take any unnecessary risks while trick or treating. Stay with what you know. Proper planning will allow you to relax on Halloween night, knowing that you have planned a safe route for your family.
If you have very young children, it is best to get your trick-or-treating done early before it gets too dark. If you enjoy going around the neighborhood at night, be sure to stay in areas with good lighting. Darkness equals danger. It is easier to step in a hole and twist an ankle if you cannot see where you are stepping. And it is more difficult for car drivers to see trick-or-treaters crossing the road in the dark.
The single biggest danger on Halloween comes from cars. While trick or treating, you and your kids are pedestrians. You are pedestrians on a busy night with lots of traffic around. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that approximately 66,000 pedestrians are injured in the U.S. each year. The Halloween season is responsible for a disproportionate percentage of these accidents.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that parents inspect their children’s Halloween candy. We have all heard horror stories about people intentionally putting dangerous foreign substances and objects in candy on Halloween. Parents should certainly inspect unwrapped candy and treats for that type of danger. But bigger safety threats come from allergies, choking hazards, and overconsumption.
On Halloween night, there are children everywhere. You should expect to find children in places that would normally be perfectly clear. The last thing you want is for your child or any other child to be injured in an auto accident. Please keep a very close eye out for the kids.
When driving through neighborhood streets on Halloween night, you need to slow down. Trick-or-treating children may not always be watching out for traffic. You need to take extra care to look out for their safety.
Whenever you are in the driver’s seat, put your phone safely in your pocket. Any calls, texts, or social media posts can wait until you have parked. Distracted driving is a widespread problem on our roads, and Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee have all enacted laws to prohibit people from using their cell phones to send text messages while driving.
At Becker Law Office, our dedicated personal injury attorneys want to make sure that this holiday stays a fun time for you and your family. In the event that you or a loved one suffers a serious injury, our legal team is standing by, ready to help.
If you believe that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, whether it was an inattentive driver, a negligent property owner, or any type of business, our personal injury team will help you fight for the financial compensation that you deserve.
To learn more about what our law firm can do for you, please contact us today to schedule your free initial legal consultation. From our offices in Lexington, Louisville, Florence, and Cincinnati, OH, we represent injured victims throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky, as well as in Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee.
