Keeping Halloween Safe

Did you know that 4 times as many children ages 4-15 are killed on Halloween evening as compared to other evenings of the year?* Falls are another leading cause of injury on Halloween. Follow these safety precautions and keep safe on this SCARY night.

Children should:

1. Travel in groups and be accompanied by an adult

2. Go only to well lit houses

3. Never enter a home, remain on the porch

4. Carry a cell phone for emergencies and KNOW their home phone number

5. Bring treats home to inspect them prior to eating

6. Avoid flowing costumes that could be ignited by a flame or pose a tripping hazard

7. Avoid costume accessories with sharp edges that could cause injury if you were to fall on it (replace a plastic sword with one made of foam)

8. Have their name, address and phone number on the INSIDE of their costume in the event of an injury (use an address label on the hem of the costume and at the back closure)

9. Use flashlights

10. Cross streets at crosswalks whenever possible. Do not cross between parked cars

11. Avoid crossing unfamiliar yards which could have unseen fences, holes or pets

12. Consider face painting instead of masks which impair vision

Parents should:

1. Supervise children under age 12

2. Prepare homes for ticker-treaters by clearing sidewalks, porches and lawns

3. Keep pets indoors until the festivities have quieted down

4. Use electric candles in pumpkins or place your pumpkin inside a window

5. Inspect all candy before allowing it to be consumed. Throw away any home-made treats unless you know the people who have made it. Throw away unwrapped candies or wrappers that are not intact.

6. Drive slowly and carefully

Have fun! Be Safe

By Diana from Prospect, KY

*Editor's Note: This statistic appears to be true regarding pedestrian deaths. Scary, nonetheless.