With fall around the corner, Halloween will soon be here. This night of fright and fun can easily turn into a real-life horror story, though, if you do not take proper precautions. Children are at a high risk of pedestrian accidents in general, reports the CDC. Furthermore, trick-or-treating makes walking twice as dangerous as any other day, reveals the National Safety Council. As accident injury lawyers in O’Fallon, IL, we want to pass along some information to keep our neighbors safe.
Here are some common hazards on Halloween and how you can keep your children (and others) safe.
Darkness
The CDC also shares that many accidents occur at night. Start trick-or-treating early in the evening before the sun goes down, if you can. If it is already dark, make your children visible:
• Place reflective tape on your children’s costumes, or have your kids wear glow sticks.
• Give your children flashlights.
• Make sure kids can sufficiently see out of masks and other coverings.
• Walk in a group.
• Set a curfew for older kids who go out without adult supervision so they are not out when all the homes go dark and drunk drivers are on the road.
Streets and sidewalks
Accompany young children from house to house to ensure they stay on well-lit, clear pathways and avoid going into the street. Always cross at crosswalks and intersections no matter how tempting it is to follow others across the middle of the road. Review the route your older kids take to check that it is safe. Have everyone put phones away to avoid distraction.
If you prefer driving to walking, be alert and prepared to stop for unexpected pedestrians. If passing out candy yourself, clear your driveway and walkway of leaves to prevent slips and falls, and turn on all external lights to make it easier for trick-or-treaters to see.
With a little preparation and lots of caution, you can ensure Halloween terror stays in the haunted house. If anything does happen, rest assured that you can take legal action to hold the guilty party financially accountable.
