Tonight's the night! It's Halloween. The night your ghosts and goblins have waited for with bated breath. Excited, they will venture into neighborhoods, goody bags in tow.
Halloween is great fun for children. But it also can be a dangerous time, not only for your superhero-or-heroine, cowboy or princess, but for drivers, homeowners, and, yes, even pets. All it takes to ensure everyone has a safe and fun Halloween is a little preparation and a vigilant eye.
"It's essential for parents to prepare their children properly to stay safe while trick-or-treating. Over a recent five-year period, on average, twice as many child pedestrians have been killed on Halloween as have been killed on average throughout the rest of the year," said Rich McCaffery, a community educator with Bassett Healthcare and Safe Kids of Otsego County.
It's a sobering statistic in which all should be aware. The days are shorter, which means children are likely to trick-or-treat in the dark when it's more difficult for drivers to see them; as well, the excitement of the holiday can make everyone less cautious.
"Parents need to remind kids about safety while walking before they go out trick-or-treating," said McCaffery. "Children should bring flashlights or glow sticks with them, carry reflective bags, or have reflective tape or stickers on their costumes to increase visibility to drivers. Children should not wear masks, which may inhibit their ability to see hazards. Ensuring kids are seen this Halloween is essential to keep this holiday fun for everyone."
Safe Kids recommends that children younger than 10 do not trick-or-treat without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to go trick-or-treating without supervision, make sure they go in a group and they stick to a predetermined route with good lighting.
Parents must also remind kids to:
Cross streets safely. Cross at a corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Try to make eye contact with drives before crossing in front of them. Look left, right and left again when crossing, and keep looking as you cross. Walk, don't run, across the street.
Walk on well-lit sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk in familiar areas with minimal street crossing.
Be a safe pedestrian around cars. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
"We drive the kids on Halloween," said Kim McCarthy of Norwich. "We live out in the country, so we'll drive the kids to the homes of friends and family. I'm always extra cautious when driving on Halloween. It's difficult to see trick-or-treaters sometimes, especially if they're wearing a dark costume and it's dark outside."
Drivers need to do their part to keep trick-or-treaters safe from harm. Safe Kids also reminds motorists to be extra careful this Halloween and recommends that drivers:
Be especially alert. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are during the typical rush-hour period between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Drive more slowly. Slow down and anticipate heavier-than-usual pedestrian traffic.
Lights on. Be sure to drive with your full headlights on so you can spot children form greater distances.
"Although pedestrian safety is a main concern on Halloween, parents also need to keep in mind that there are other hazards for their children," McCaffery said. "Parents must check treats for choking hazards or signs of tampering before children are allowed to eat them.
"Our kids don't always have to get candy either," McCarthy said. "Small toys, trading cards or healthy snacks are good ideas, too."
Safe Kids of Otsego County also suggests that parents look for non-flammable costumes and non-toxic designations when choosing Halloween makeup and make sure their children wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes to prevent trips and falls.
Homeowners also should take some precautions on Halloween. Yankee Halloween, at www.yankeehalloween.com/safety.html, provides tips for homeowners and their pets. Homeowners should:
Make sure your yard is clear of such things as ladders, garden hoses, dog leashes and low flower pots. These objects can trip young trick-or-treaters.
Be sure the path and stairs to your front door are well illuminated and clear of obstacles.
Glow light sticks or battery powered jack-o-lantern lights are preferable to real flame candles.
If you do use candles, place the carved jack-o-lantern well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
Remember Halloween can be a stressful time for pets. Many strangers visiting in strange costumes can be scary for a dog. Advice for pet and animal owners includes:
Don't leave your pet out in the yard on Halloween.
Be careful your dog or cat doesn't dart outside when you open the door.
For more safety tips for kids, visit Safe Kids at www.safekids.org. And have a safe and spooky Halloween!
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