Halloween Facts & Safety Tips

Did you know that children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and sustain fatal injuries on Halloween than on any other day of the year?  In 2017, October ranked No. 2 in motor vehicle deaths by month, with 3,700.
 
Kids love the magic of Halloween: Trick-or-treating, class parties and haunted houses.  But for parents there is a fine line between Halloween fun and safety concerns, especially when it comes to road and pedestrian safety.
 
In 2017, 7,450 pedestrians died in traffic or non-traffic incidents, according to Injury Facts. Non-traffic incidents include those occurring on driveways, in parking lots or on private property.
 
18% of these deaths occurred at road crossings or intersections. Lack of visibility because of low lighting at night also plays a factor in these deaths.
 
Costume Safety
To help ensure adults and children have a safe holiday, the American Academy of Pediatrics has compiled a list of Halloween safety tips.
 

• Before Halloween arrives, be sure to choose a costume that won't cause safety hazards.
• All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant
• Avoid masks, which can obstruct vision
• If children are allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, or give them glow sticks
• When buying Halloween makeup, make sure it is nontoxic and always test it in a small area first
• Remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation

 
When They're on the Prowl

• A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you
• Agree on a specific time children should return home
• Teach your children never to enter a stranger's home or car
• Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends
• Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home
• Children and adults are reminded to put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don't run, across the street

 
Safety Tips for Motorists

• NSC offers these additional safety tips for parents – and anyone who plans to be on the road during trick-or-treat hours:
• Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully
• At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing
• Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween

 
​Source: National Safety Council