CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Halloween is a cherished tradition. However, the excitement can easily cause children to forget to be careful. There are no real "tricks" to making Halloween a real "treat" for the entire family, but Halloween does pose special risks to young pedestrians.
The major dangers are not from witches or spirits but rather from falls and pedestrian or vehicle mishaps. It is up to us as parents and adults to go out of our way to ensure our children have a safe and enjoyable time.
Now that Oct. 31 is here, children are off and running with little regard for their surrounding environment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of deaths among young pedestrians was four times higher on Halloween when compared with the same time period during all other evenings of the year.
Children typically spend their time outdoors during daylight hours. However, Halloween activities occur mostly after dark. Children tend to trick or treat by frequently crossing streets at mid-block rather than at corners or crosswalks where drivers anticipate pedestrians. The combination of these factors puts children at risk for pedestrian injury.
To ensure a safe Halloween, let children know what is expected of them ahead of time. Establish ground rules and make certain the rules are followed to prevent unfortunate events from happening. Provide children with a flashlight or glow stick to light their way. Additionally, reflective tape, white or light colored costumes and reflective trick-or-treat buckets make children more visible to motorists. Reflective paint on a dark surface will not only decorate with a ghostly glow, it will also be seen more easily.
While parents do need to make sure their children are visible while trick or treating, motorists should also use extra caution on Halloween.
Since most trick-or-treating occurs when visibility is low, drivers and passengers alike should be extremely cautious of children running back and forth across the streets. Small children may not be looking for vehicles, so the motorists must be keenly aware of excited trick-or-treaters on the streets. Driving under the posted speed limit will increase the amount of time to stop should a child dart into the street.
To help in keeping children safe and visible to motorists, the safety office will be distributing glow-in-the-dark Halloween bags and glow sticks Oct. 31 from 2:30 to 3 p.m. at the Hunley Park Elementary School and Lambs Elementary School. They will also have bags and glow sticks available at Youth Programs and the Child Development Center beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Halloween can be a joyous and fun time for all. These basic safety ideas, if followed, can help prevent any needless injuries from occurring. Remember, Halloween is fun; emergency rooms are not! Dress your children for maximum visibility and inspect all treats before you eat them. Have a safe and enjoyable time.