Seven steps to a safer Halloween

For most children, trick or treating is one of the most popular parts of Halloween. Yet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that Halloween is one of the top three days of the year for pedestrian injuries and fatalities. And out of eight major holidays, Halloween has the fifth-highest number of emergency room visits involving children under the age of 18. That’s why we wanted to share with you seven important ways for parents to help their children have a happy and safe Halloween:

1. Have an adult accompany trick-or-treaters. Having a trusted adult with children as they go door-to-door is a must. An adult can help make sure children are safely crossing streets and driveways. In fact, children are twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than any other night of the year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2. Equip your little trick-or-treaters with flashlights. Make sure each child has a flashlight. And dress children in flame-resistant costumes that have reflective material. If they don’t, apply reflective material yourself.
3. Don’t allow children to ride or run. Halloween night isn’t the time to be riding a bicycle, skateboard or scooter or running from house to house. Falls are a common source of injuries on Halloween. Insist children walk, not run, and watch out for tripping hazards such as curbs, uneven sidewalks and items on front porches. Make sure costumes don’t make it difficult for a child to see clearly.
4. Allow children only to eat pre-packaged candy and snacks. Inspect your child’s candy collection before allowing them to dive in. Discard any homemade treats from people you don’t know.
5. Watch those accessories. Some costume accessories such as pirate swords and knives can cause injuries, especially eye injuries. Use foam swords or knives instead of hard plastic or metal ones.
6.  Consider painting, not carving pumpkins. Lacerations from pumpkin-carving are one of the top types of Halloween injuries. Always supervise children while carving pumpkins and have younger children paint them instead.
7.  Use candles with care. Candles can cause burns and house fires on Halloween. Never leave candlelit pumpkins unattended and better yet, have children use battery-operated flameless candles or glow sticks in their jack-o-lanterns instead.