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         As Halloween creeps up, kids will dream of spooky costumes, jack-o’-lanterns and haunted houses. Halloween is one of the most thrilling nights of the year for children, and also one of the most dangerous. As kids hit the street to trick-or-treat, the potential for unintentional injury rises. In fact, children are four times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other night of the year. Halloween can indeed be scary, with increases in pedestrian injuries, burns and falls among children.
           “Children may be distracted by the excitement of the night and the fun of trick-or-treating, and may not take safety to the street. Careless street crossing coupled with drivers’ more limited vision at night can make for a deadly mix.” said Heather Paul, Ph.D., executive director of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. “Many of the risks kids face on Halloween can be avoided if parents discuss important safety precautions with their kids.”
As parents and children take time to construct costumes and decorations, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign recommends the following:

For kids ages 12 and under:
  • Adults should accompany any children under
        age 12.
  • Attach the name, address and phone number
        (including area code) of children under age 12
        to their clothes in case they get separated
        from adults.

    For ages 12 and older:
  • Teach your child his or her phone number.
  • Make sure your children have change for a
        phone call in case they have a problem away
        from home.
  • Instruct children to travel only in familiar areas
        and along a pre-established route.
  • Instruct children never to enter a home or an
        apartment building unless accompanied by an
        adult.
  • Set a time for children to return home.
  • Restrict trick-or-treating visits to homes with
        porch or outside lights illuminated.
  • Tell children to bring their treats home before
        eating them. Parents should check treats to
        ensure that items have not been tampered
        with and are safely sealed. Be careful with
        fruit. Inspect the surface closely for punctures
        or holes and cut it open before allowing a
        child to eat it.
     
    All ages:
  • Remove breakable items or obstacles such as
        tools, ladders and children's toys from your
        steps, lawn and porch. Keep jack-o’-lanterns
        lit with candles away from landings or
        doorsteps where costumes might brush
        against the flame.

    Pedestrian Injuries:
    Halloween is the most dangerous night of the year for child pedestrians. Darting out into the street is one of the most common causes of pedestrian death among children.
     
    Visibility:
  • Decorate costumes, bags and sacks with
        retro reflective tape and stickers.
  • Use costumes that are light or bright enough
        to make children more visible at night.

    Traffic:
  • Teach children to walk, not run, while trick-or-
        treating.
  • Remind children to stop at all street corners
        before crossing. Tell them to cross streets
        only at intersections and crosswalks.
  • Teach them to look left, right and left again
        before crossing the street and to continue
        looking both ways as they cross.
  • Teach them never to dart out into a street or
        cross between parked cars.
  • Never let children under age 12 go trick-or-
        treating or cross the street without adult
        supervision.
     
     
    		•  Motorists:
  • Slow down in residential
        neighborhoods.
  • Obey all traffic signs and signals.
  • Watch for children walking in the
        street or on medians and curbs.
  • Enter and exit driveways and
        alleyways slowly and carefully.
  • Teach children to exit and enter the
        car on the curbside, away from traffic.
     
    Falls:
    On Halloween night, cumbersome costumes and blinding masks can make walking safely through dark neighborhoods difficult. The following tips can help prevent fall-related injuries:
     
  • Apply face paint or cosmetics directly
        to the face. It is safer than a loose-
        fitting mask that can obstruct a child's
        vision. If a mask is worn, be certain it
        fits securely. Cut the eyeholes large
        enough for full vision.
  • Give trick-or-treaters flashlights.
  • Make costumes short enough to avoid
        tripping.
  • Secure hats so they will not slip over
        children's eyes.
  • Dress children in shoes that fit. Adult
        shoes are not safe for trick-or-
        treaters. The larger size makes it
        easier for them to trip and fall.
  • Allow children to carry only flexible
        knives, swords or other props.
        Anything they carry could injure
        them if they fall.
  • Teach children not to cut across
        yards. Lawn ornaments and
        clotheslines are “hidden hazards” in
        the dark. Tell your children to stay on
        the sidewalk at all times.
     
    Burns:
    Fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children. On Halloween, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign recommends the following:
     
  • Look for "flame resistant" labels on
        costumes, masks, beards and wigs.
  • Use fire resistant material when
        making costumes.
  • Avoid costumes made of flimsy
        material and outfits with big, baggy
        sleeves or billowing skirts.  These
        are more likely to come in contact
        with an exposed flame, such as a
        candle, than tighter fitting costumes.
  • Keep candles, pumpkins with
        candles, matches and lighters out of
        children’s reach.

     
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