DAYTON CHILDREN’S READY FOR HALLOWEEN?
Top tips for Halloween safety.
BOO! We all love a good Halloween scare, but not when it comes to the safety of our children. Halloween should be fun for our kiddos, including the costume they choose. But it’s important to make sure they are dressed for safe trick-ortreating – the last thing you want is an injury on Halloween.
“Due to masks, dark colors and just a lot of kiddos running around, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and become seriously injured on Halloween than any other day of the year,” says Abbey Pettiford, Safe Kids Greater Dayton coordinator and injury prevention specialist at Dayton Children’s Hospital.
“There are a lot of different ways that parents can ensure their child’s safety when it comes to trick-ortreating,” says Abbey. Keep these tips in mind as you get ready for your spooktacular holiday:
1. Provide your child with a glow stick. Children love glow sticks and it helps drivers see your child from farther away – it’s a win-win.
2. Use reflective tape or stickers on their costume or candy bag to help your child stay visible as it gets dark outside.
3. Children 12 and under should have a parent with them while trick-or-treating. Kids get excited about the holiday and all of the different candy they are going to get and can easily get distracted. Help be their eyes and ears and make sure they are safe going from house to house.
4. Encourage your child to slow down and be alert.
5. Remind your child to always look both ways before crossing the street. Teach them to make eye contact with drivers before walking into the street. Kids should also watch for cars backing out of driveways as they are walking down the sidewalk.
6. Help your child pick out a costume. Make sure that it fits well and isn’t dragging on the ground to help prevent trips and falls.
7. Choose face paint over masks if possible. Masks can make it hard for kids to see while walking.
8. Make sure your child can breathe in their costume. Wigs and beards shouldn’t cover the mouth or nose making it hard to breathe.
9. Be present. Try to stay off your phone or device and stay alert in case you need to jump into action.
“Nothing is scarier than an unexpected injury on Halloween. Use these tips to prepare ahead of time for a fun evening with the whole family! This is a special time to make memories with your child,” says Abbey.