Halloween is around the corner and the potential for injuries that come with this holiday can be scary. As Tampa personal injury lawyers, we want to do everything we can to help you and that’s why we put together a list of the top seven Halloween safety tips.
So, before you enjoy the spooky activities that Halloween brings, we strongly encourage you to read through our list and do your own research to better prepare you and your family to safely enjoy this time of year.
Prepare your Home
When children trick-or-treat, their main concern is filling their bags with as much candy as possible. With one objective on their mind, they likely won’t pay close attention to where they’re walking.
That’s why it’s important for you to prepare your home before the big night. This includes:
- Illuminating your walkway – With long capes, masks, glasses and more, trick-or-treaters often have reduced vision. Help them find your doorway by turning on all of your outdoor lights and illuminating your walkway so they can easily see their path.
- Picking a safe spot – If you have steep steps or an uneven pathway that lead to your front door, consider finding an alternate spot to safely pass out candy to decrease any potential for injury.
We also encourage you to lock up because while you’re passing out candy, a burglar could be sneaking through an unlocked door or window in your house. Before the night’s festivities begin, shut and lock all of your doors, windows, and cars as well.
Contain Fido
Although dogs are man’s best friend, sometimes they can get overly excited. In these cases, there’s a chance your dog could escape, jump on, or even bite a trick-or-treater. Keep your dog safely confined in a place where it cannot escape.
Beware of Pumpkin Carving
Although pumpkin carving is a fun Halloween tradition, it can lead to serious injury if you’re not careful.
In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that 48% of Halloween-related injuries involved pumpkin carving.
Here are a couple pumpkin carving safety tips:
- Avoid using kitchen knives and instead, opt for a pumpkin carving kit that includes everything you need to safely carve a pumpkin. The tools that are included in these kits are typically smaller which makes them easier to hold and control which can reduce the chances of injury.
- Have a first-aid kit readily available. Even if you’re cautious, accidents do happen and you want to be prepared if the situation is to arise.
Walk with your Kids
Pedestrian accidents are much more common on Halloween night than on any other night of the year. Low lighting and lack of visibility are contributing factors. Smaller children, especially, should be accompanied by an adult while on their trick-or-treating route.
Review Safety Rules
Before your kids head out the door for a night of fun, it’s a good idea to review safety rules with them. Consider covering the following:
- Older children who will trick-or-treat on their own should agree on a time they are to return home.
- Review the route your children are allowed to follow when trick-or-treating.
- Remind your children to never, under any circumstance, enter a stranger’s home and/or car.
- When walking, always keep their heads up and not be glued to the screen of a mobile device so they can see where they’re going.
Did you know? 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?
- Do not eat any of the candy until they arrive home (see next tip).
- If your child’s costume is made of dark material, make sure they carry a glow stick and/or wear reflective tape so they can be seen by motorists while walking.
Look Over their Treat Bags
It only takes a few minutes, but looking over your kids candy before they enjoy them could avoid catastrophe.
When reviewing their treat bags, look for:
- Discoloration or unusual appearance
- Homemade items or treat bags
- Tears and/or pinholes in wrappers
As a general rule of thumb, remember, “when in doubt, throw it out.”
Be Extra Cautious While Driving
Pay special attention to your surroundings and reduce your speed when driving in a neighborhood during trick-or-treating hours. Some costumes are made with dark, non-reflective material. It’s for this reason, among many, motorists should keep an eye out for kids running across the street, walking on sidewalks, and cutting through driveways on Halloween night.
From all of us at Cappy Law, we’d like to wish you and your family a safe and fun Halloween!
