Keeping Your Family Safe This Halloween
Porches are lined with pumpkins, kids are carefully planning costume ideas and candy has lined the shelves of stores. Halloween is just days away and the excitement and preparation has already begun. Incorporating safety into this year’s preparation can make Halloween much more enjoyable.
Halloween is one of the most popular holidays today, second to Christmas, and one of the oldest holidays still celebrated. While the history and origin of Halloween varies dependent upon culture, one thing is for certain, on October 31st children and adults around the country will dress in costumes and take part in the tradition of trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, this time-honored tradition has become questionable for safety.
According to researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, pedestrian fatalities involving children are 4.5 times the level on Halloween than other nights. Restricted to children under the age of 15, the study shows more of an increase of fatalities in darkness rather than daylight.
Halloween is a time for children to expand their imaginations through costume choices and to explore a sense of independence while trick-or-treating. By taking safety precautions, parents can keep their child’s Halloween tradition while creating new memories. Below are a few tips to follow on Halloween:
While adults no longer participate in the childhood tradition of trick-or-treating they must act responsibly while attending Halloween parties.
Half of the nation’s traffic fatalities over Halloween weekend are related to alcohol consumption. In fact, in 2003, 53 percent of all highway fatalities at Halloween were alcohol related with 45 percent of total fatalities involving a driver with a blood alcohol consumption of .08 or higher.
Practicing safe activities on Halloween are common sense actions that can make the difference between an enjoyable Halloween and a tragic one.
Staying focused on the safety preparation for Halloween while planning can make your Halloween stress free and special.
Tony Patterson is an attorney who practices personal injury law with the law firm of Parr Richey Obremskey & Morton.
October, 2006
Halloween is one of the most popular holidays today, second to Christmas, and one of the oldest holidays still celebrated. While the history and origin of Halloween varies dependent upon culture, one thing is for certain, on October 31st children and adults around the country will dress in costumes and take part in the tradition of trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, this time-honored tradition has become questionable for safety.
According to researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, pedestrian fatalities involving children are 4.5 times the level on Halloween than other nights. Restricted to children under the age of 15, the study shows more of an increase of fatalities in darkness rather than daylight.
Halloween is a time for children to expand their imaginations through costume choices and to explore a sense of independence while trick-or-treating. By taking safety precautions, parents can keep their child’s Halloween tradition while creating new memories. Below are a few tips to follow on Halloween:
- Plan costumes that are bright and reflective or consider adding reflective tape
- Secure emergency identification discreetly within costume or on a bracelet
- Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries
- Teach children their home phone number and how to call 911 if they have an emergency or become lost
- Do not permit children to bicycle, roller-blade or skateboard
- Remind all household drivers to remain cautious and drive slowly through out the community
- Stay in a group, walk slowly and communicate where you are going
- Only trick-or-treat in well-known neighborhoods and at homes that have a porch light on
- Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk
- If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic
- Never cut across yards or use alleys
- Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations
- Always walk. Never run across a street
- Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks
- Remove any mask or item that will limit eyesight before crossing a street, driveway or alley
- Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble-seeing
- Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will
While adults no longer participate in the childhood tradition of trick-or-treating they must act responsibly while attending Halloween parties.
Half of the nation’s traffic fatalities over Halloween weekend are related to alcohol consumption. In fact, in 2003, 53 percent of all highway fatalities at Halloween were alcohol related with 45 percent of total fatalities involving a driver with a blood alcohol consumption of .08 or higher.
Practicing safe activities on Halloween are common sense actions that can make the difference between an enjoyable Halloween and a tragic one.
- Designate and reward a sober driver for the people in your party.
- Store the number of a cab company in your cell phone or purse in case you do not have a sober driver
- Do not attend a party by yourself or alert someone as to where you are going
- Be alert on the road and report drunk drivers to authorities
Staying focused on the safety preparation for Halloween while planning can make your Halloween stress free and special.
Tony Patterson is an attorney who practices personal injury law with the law firm of Parr Richey Obremskey & Morton.
October, 2006