Halloween safety

Keeping your Halloween safe is important and there are some scary statistics out there. Children are twice as likely to die on Halloween than any other day of the year. With more children out on the streets during Halloween, it is not surprising. Remember – these accidents are preventable.

Most child pedestrian fatalities on Halloween happen between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the middle of the street. One of the reasons this time is dangerous is that many people are just getting home from work, and because children are small, they are often not in the line of sight of drivers.

Here is what parents can do to help keep your kids safe. Start with always staying close enough to your children to watch for danger. To help make them more visible, put reflective tape on your child’s costume or have them carry a flashlight or glow stick. Stick to using the sidewalks and cross only at crosswalks or street corners. Make sure all costumes fit properly to prevent trips or falls. Face painting is a good alternative to a mask.

Adults should always have a transportation plan in place. Many attend Halloween parties and don’t intend to drink much, but end up consuming more alcohol than planned. Make sure you have another plan for getting home if you need it.

Pumpkin carving is another activity that takes the lead in Halloween injuries. Rather than using sharp kitchen knives, use the small pumpkin carving tools that come in kits. Even better, let the adults do the carving and kids can scoop out the insides or draw on a face. Consider using battery operated candles instead of open flame candles for your jack-o-lanterns.

Even if you are staying home there are things you can do to keep it safe for trick or treaters. Remove any tripping hazards from your yard and porch – these are things like garden hoses, toys, flower pots, and bikes. Check your outdoor lights and make sure they are working. Sweep any wet leaves from sidewalks and steps so no one slips. Decorate safely and use battery operated lighting instead of candles. Keep your pets inside.

Remind kids not to eat their candy until parents have had a chance to check it. Tell kids not to accept anything that isn’t commercially wrapped. When checking over the candy, make sure to remove any choking hazards like hard candies or small toys. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

Halloween can be a fun and exciting holiday but it is important to think about safety. So plan your routes, stay alert, stay seen, and never trick or treat alone.

Happy Halloween!

Cinda Seamon is the Community Risk Reduction & Outreach Program Coordinator for Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue.