Make Safety High Priority For Halloween Trick-or-Treaters
by Lucas Shivers

Halloween's excitement often causes children to forget to be careful, said Mike Bradshaw, Kansas State University Research and Extension safety specialist.

There is no single trick to making the fall holiday a treat, but paying attention to safety details can prevent harm.

"Trick-or-treaters who rush from house to house also may increase their risk of slipping or falling, or being involved in a motor vehicle-pedestrian accident," Bradshaw said. "Parents can, however, take steps to reduce their child's risks."

Parents can overestimate children's street-crossing skills. Likewise, children sometimes fail to evaluate potential traffic threats, have slower sensory perception and are unable to predict driver behavior. Because of their small size and slower movements, children can be vulnerable. Often in a hurry, children often choose the fastest way to cross the street, rather than the safest.

Roughly four times as many children aged 5-14 are killed while walking on Halloween evening compared to other nights of the year, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. Falls are the leading cause of injuries among children, often because of costumes or masks, Bradshaw said.

"Ill-fitting or poorly made masks can be problematical. Too big? Too small? Either can obscure vision," Bradshaw said. "Watch also for sharp edges or other protrusions that may endanger the eye."

Deciding on an age to allow children to trick-or-treat without the direct supervision of a parent must be individual to the situation.

"The decision usually is influenced by the child's age and maturity level; the child's ability to handle peer pressure; the character of the neighborhood and the community; and the parent-child relationship," he said. "Parents sometimes worry less about a more responsible, dependable child, but may need to be reminded that Halloween can be one those occasions when even dependable young people throw caution to the wind."

Halloween Safety Tips

Children and adults alike need to think about safety while trick-or-treating. Parents can help prevent children from getting injured by following these safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Safety Council.

Parents:
  • Make sure an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising children under age 12.
  • Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow.
  • Instruct children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
  • Teach children to stop only at well-lit homes and never to enter a stranger's house.
  • Establish a return time.
  • Tell youngsters not to eat any treat until they return home. Then inspect the treats.
  • Review appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.
  • Pin a slip of paper with the child's name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.
  • Give children an early meal before going out.
  • Wash fruit and slice into small pieces.
  • When in doubt, throw it out.
  • Use fire-retardant materials for costumes.
  • Costumes should be loose so warm clothes can be worn underneath.
  • Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard.
  • If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light colored materials. Strips of retro-reflective tape should be used to make children visible.
  • Masks can obstruct a child's vision. Use facial make-up instead.
  • If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes.
  • Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.
  • Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.
Trick or treaters:
  • Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision.
  • Walk, do not run, from house to house. Do not cross lawns where unseen objects or uneven terrain can present tripping hazards.
  • Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.
  • Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.
Motorists:
  • Watch for children darting out from between parked cars
  • Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
  • Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
  • At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.



K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Source: Lucas Shivers, Communications Assistant
lshivers@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research and Extension

For more information: Mike Bradshaw is at 785-532-5773