Tips for Halloween Safety

Daylight savings time means that children are more likely to be trick-or-treating in the dark when it is harder for drivers to see them and the excitement of the holiday can make everyone less cautious. To keep kids safe, parents must remind them about the rules of the road and ensure that they will be seen by drivers this Halloween.

• Children should bring flashlights or glow sticks with them
• Carry reflective treat bags
• Place reflective tape on their costumes and treat bags
• 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 Rules for the Road

Safe Kids recommends that children under age 12 do not trick-or-treat without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to go trick-or-treating without supervision, make sure they stick to a predetermined route with good lighting.

• Cross streets safely. Cross at a corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Try to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them. Don’t assume that because you can see the driver, the driver can see you. Look left, right and left again when crossing, and keep looking as you cross. Walk, don’t run, across the street.
• Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
• 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.

How Parents Can Help Keep Kids Safe

Although pedestrian safety is a main concern on Halloween, parents also need to keep in mind that there are other hazards for their children on this holiday.

• Parents should check treats for signs of tampering before children are allowed to eat them.
• The liquid in glow sticks is also hazardous, so parents should remind children not to chew on or break them.
• Finally, Safe Kids Northeast Florida suggests that parents look for non-toxic designations when choosing Halloween makeup.

Click here for our Halloween safety checklist in English and checklist in Spanish.

Click here for a link to Baptist News Release about Halloween Safety.