Fall is a great time of year for kids and adults alike. Many parents relish in children going back to school and fall sporting events. Children often enjoy the social aspects of meeting new children in the classroom and getting ready for upcoming holidays.
Many children (and parents) also enjoy getting dressed up for Halloween and engaging in local trick-or-treating traditions. While trick-or-treating can be a great outing for the whole family, it can be dangerous as well. In fact, calls to emergency personnel increase 17 percent in British Columbia during Halloween. Crashes are also troublesome as roughly 120 people are injured in an average of 83collisions every Halloween.
You can use the following safety tips to help keep your family safe this Halloween.
- Try your best to stay visible.
It is difficult for drivers to avoid children and even adults when they are dressed in all-black costumes. Many Halloween get-ups feature dark colors, but those will not be easy to spot at dusk or in the evening. While visibility is particularly important for children, adults should be wary of dark costumes as well.
Try to incorporate brighter colors into your costume or use reflective tape on your disguise. Glow lights and flashlights can also help you and your family be seen while trick-or-treating.
- Leave your pets at home.
Although it can be fun to dress up your pet and drag him or her around the neighborhood, there are quite a few things that may distress your pet. Fireworks, unfamiliar people and places, plus wearing a costume can be overwhelming for your furry friend. Your dog may get loose, or, worse, lash out at those nearby.
- Travel in groups.
It is a good idea for children to stick together when trick-or-treating. Traveling in packs means that those who want to scare the children or take their candy will be far less likely to try any tricks. Just be sure to also have an appropriate number of adults to accompany the children. If the children are old enough to venture out on their own, go through the specific route they will take on their adventure, so you know wherethey will be at all times.
- Choose functional costumes.
Check to be sure that your child can move appropriately in his or her costume. He or she should be able to walk and run with little restrictions. If the child is wearing a mask or hood, be sure that he or she can see where they are going at all times. Pin back portions of the costume if it is oversized or remove masks if necessary. Face paint may be a better option to ensure your child can see properly.
- Remind children of basic safety tips.
Unfortunately, when kids get excited, they sometimes ignore basic safety tips. Keep reminding your children to stay on the sidewalk and use crosswalks. They should also obey traffic signals and always look both ways before crossing the street—just like any other day. Encourage children to visit all of the houses on one side of the street first, then cross the street to go back down the other side. Keeping children out of the road as much as possible will decrease accidents with vehicles.
You should also be sure that children know not to get into strangers’ vehicles or go inside houses when they are trick-or-treating. All of the treats should be doled out at the door.
Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!
From everyone here at Diamond & Diamond Lawyers—we wish you a happy and safe Halloween!