Halloween may be a fun night for spooky and scary fun, but there are a few things you don’t want to get scared about, especially your kid’s safety. Here are your Tips for Halloween Safety.
Want to get scared this Halloween?
Did you know according to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year?
While that fact might take the fun of one of my favorite times of the year, it does put it in perspective that a fun night can easily go to the worst place imaginable as a parent with just a few preventable missteps by our kids.
However what’s even more impactful is that while 75% of parents say they have fears about Halloween safety, only about 1/3 of parents actually take the time to go over a few safety tips?
That’s why MamaChallenge.com is proud to partner with Methodist Richardson Medical Center to remind us that taking just five minutes to remind your family of the dos and don’ts of pedestrian safety, especially on Halloween, can make the difference between a fun memory or a scary nightmare that you’ll never wake up from.
1. Look before crossing the road.
Remember teaching your kids how to cross the road? With shorter fall days and earlier darker skies, now is a great time to review the purpose of crosswalks, sidewalks and the right protocols (look left, right, and left) for walking across the street in a safe manner. Eye contact is also an a super tip for older kids to learn to make sure drivers see them before they begin walking across the road.
2. Put down the smartphone.
You know you’ve done it too…You’re deep into texting, emailing or posting on your smartphone, while Walking down the hall or on the sidewalk. Then you either bumped into someone or made a misstep because you weren’t watching what was happening around you. It’s hard as an adult, but imagine being a 12 year old kid with tons of friends and other things going on?
3. Light it up!
If you can light it up, you should when it comes to walking outdoors after the sun has gone down. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers. Also before leaving the house make sure the kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
But pedestrian safety tips aren’t just for the kids either… As adults, no matter how much of a hurry, we need to watch for kids not following the rules or darting out in the road without looking. And while it’s easy to say, kids learn most from watching you, so set a good example by putting down your device and make mindful decisions when it comes to your and their safety.
Remember to drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic, and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
As you and the kids prepare for a fun night of trick or treating, make sure to remember these safety tips for Halloween and the fall season to ensure this fun event doesn’t turn into a nightmare.
For more fall safety tips from Methodist Richardson, visit here.
Hope you have a fun and safe Halloween!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Methodist Richardson Medical Center.
These are great tips. Halloween is great fun, but it can be super dangerous, too.
We are super careful about the kids when they are out and about for Halloween. Pedestrian safety is so important.
Great reminders. This time of year is definitely a time to refresh our awareness.
Great tips. Halloween is such a fun time, there is no need to not be safe and ruin it. So important to keep everyone safe!
Ugh, I hate statistics like this one. Wow… had no clue. We carry flash lights, put glow sticks around our kids and make them hold hands while trick-or-treating. On top of that, we try to go earlier in the evening, before it gets too dark .
these are some great tips! Watching as you cross the road is so important, even if the streets are crowded
It’s always important to make sure you can easily be seen when trick or treating. Lights are a great way to do so.
This is awesome advice. I’m going to make sure no one in this house is going to drive that night!
These are some wonderful tips. It’s scary to hear that kids are twice as likely to get hurt/killed on Halloween. I always walk with my kids and make sure they check before crossing the streets. This year I’m going to make sure they have lights with them. Whether it’s a glow stick or a flashlight, I want to make sure they’re safe.
Making sure the kids are easy to see is so important. We always put plashing lights on ourselves and the kids when we go out on Halloween.
Every year I see people driving recklessly and parents dropping kids off in terrible sots. Drives me nuts but we can only focus on our own kids.
Great safety tips for parents to keep in mind. Thanks for reminding us that whether we have kids or not we need to be careful during Halloween when the little ones are out after dark trick or treating.
My favorite one is put your pgone down. I would use mine as a flash light for more darker streets.
All good tips. I just had a driver complaining to me the other day about how frequently people walk out into the road while looking at their smart phones and then are pissed at him when he has to screech to a stop!
We really should think about our children’s safety when their are out trick or treating. These are wonderful tips.
These are very helpful tips this time of year. Especially when the time changes and it gets dark earlier… so important to have reflectors!
Halloween safety is an important topic to discuss with our little ones, especially as it pertains to trick-or-treating! As parents, we can also help protect them using the tips you mentioned. Thanks for sharing!
WOW! 9:3o is late. Here, the unofficial times are 6-8. No one has their light on after 8.
Safety comes first! Great reminders. Thanks!
Your post reinforces some very important safety tips about Halloween. Whether we have kids trick or treating or are just driving through the neighborhood, everyone needs to be especially careful.
I’m glad at least we now wait until after Halloween to set the clocks back. I remember when it was before and it was way too dark.
Great post! This is such an important topic especially on trick or treat night! Thanks for the info!
Great tips and it’s so important! It’s easy to not see kids when they are in all black or those dark costumes.
Lights are just SO important! We will have our illuminated pumpkins and flashlights!