No Tricks, Just Truths: Safety Tips to Avoid Injury this Halloween

Halloween is right around the corner, and whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart, it’s one of the most anticipated nights of the year. It’s also one of the most dangerous.

The risk of pedestrian fatalities is 43% higher on Halloween compared to any other night, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study, “Pedestrian Fatalities Associated with Halloween in the United States,” compiled 42 years of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and revealed that children between the ages of 4 and 8 are 10 times more likely to be hit by a vehicle on Halloween than on any other evening.

We encourage parents to discuss Halloween safety with their children. A few simple precautions and advance planning can help ensure a fun, safe night for everyone. Trick-or-treaters should stay on well-lit streets where other families are present. Older children should travel in groups, and younger children should always be accompanied by an adult.

At Aronfeld Trial Lawyers, we hope you and your loved ones have a safe and Happy Halloween. Here are some important safety tips for drivers, parents, children, and property owners.

Safety Tips for Drivers

• The safest thing you can do is avoid driving on Halloween night.
• If you must drive, do not drive distracted. Distracted driving involves more than just using your cell phone behind the wheel. It is anything that takes your focus off the road for a second.
• Focus on safe driving and your surroundings, especially in residential neighborhoods where there is trick-or-treating.
• Take extra time to look for kids at intersections waiting to cross the street, on medians and on curbs.
• Expect them to dart out in front of traffic. Halloween is an exciting night for kids and sometimes they can forget the most basic safety rules, particularly around vehicles. More than 70 percent of child pedestrian fatalities on Halloween occurred somewhere other than a crosswalk or intersection.
• If you are the parent of a teen driver, establish a no driving policy on Halloween night. Drivers between the ages of 15 and 25 were involved in approximately one-third of all child pedestrian fatalities on Halloween.
• If you see a drunk driver, contact law enforcement.

Safety Tips for Parents and Children

• Increase your child’s visibility by choosing a bright costume and adding reflective tape. Use a flashlight or glow stick for extra visibility.
• Costumes should fit properly and be made of non-flammable material and should not interfere with walking.
• Choose child-friendly face paint and make-up as opposed to masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
• Children should leave behind props like wands and swords when trick-or- treating. These are great for photos but leave them at home.
• Encourage your child to get an early start trick-or-treating while it is still daylight. Always accompany your child on their route.
• Older kids who may not need adult supervision should trick-or-treat in a small group, never alone. Parents should help in establishing their route and always set a curfew.
• For younger children, secure emergency contact information on their Halloween costumes. Include your name, home phone number, address, and cell phone number.
• Teach your children to never assume the right of way when it comes to cars, and to make direct eye contact with the driver before crossing the street.
• Instruct your children to only walk on the sidewalk, cross the street at marked crosswalks, and use traffic signals to get across the street safely.
• Once the night is over, parents should carefully inspect all candy in their children’s bags to make sure it is safe.

Safety Tips for Property Owners

• If you plan on welcoming trick-or-treaters, make sure your porch light is turned on.
• Have your property clean of debris, gardening tools and decorations that could be in the path of children and cause a trip and fall.
• Nothing screams Halloween like a jack-o-lantern displayed on the front porch but be mindful of the danger if a child gets too close to the flame. Battery-powered lights are safest for jack-o’-lanterns.

If you or a loved one is injured due to someone else’s negligence this Halloween, know your rights and speak with an experienced Miami personal injury attorney.

Call toll-free at 1-866-597-4529, locally at 305-441-0440, or reach us by email.