Even though Fall is as warm as a New England summer, South Florida families love dressing up and celebrating Halloween. Some families may choose a small gathering with close friends, while others prefer a neighborhood block party. Whichever celebration a family chooses, it is possible to both have fun and stay safe this Halloween season by following a few simple precautions.
Pedestrian Safety
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are more likely to be fatally struck by a vehicle on Halloween night than on any other day of the year. Parents should help children to be visibly seen by cars while trick-or-treating at night. Costumes in light or bright colors are better seen in the dark, and visibility can be improved by employing glow sticks, flashlights, and reflective tape.
Adults should always accompany children and remind them to walk on sidewalks when available and only cross streets at corners or crosswalks, making sure that drivers see their group before crossing. When walking with children, adults should remain alert and keep a slower pace to ensure children do not dart away.
Costume Safety
A child’s costume should fit well, so as not to cause them to trip or fall into the street. All parts of the costume including wigs, beards, masks and other accessories should be fire-resistant. According to the Halloween Industry Association, “if the costume specifically states that it is “flame-retardant” on the package or the label, it is made of materials that inhibit or resist the spread of fire” should the wearer come in contact with a flame.
Masks often obscure a child’s vision. The National Safety Council recommends that children wear non-toxic Halloween makeup instead. It is important to test a small patch of a child’s skin with the makeup to see if any irritation develops. Even though makeup may be non-toxic, a child may have an allergic reaction to an ingredient in the product. Any makeup a child wears on Halloween should be removed before the child goes to sleep to prevent any skin or eye irritation.
Any sharp costume accessories such as swords, knives, or canes may cause a child harm if they trip or fall and therefore, should be avoided. Decorative contact lenses should never be used without an eye examination and prescription from an eye care professional. Doing so may cause pain, inflammation, serious eye disorders, and infections, which can lead to permanent loss of vision.
Pumpkin Carving Safety
Younger children should never be allowed to carve a pumpkin. A good alternative is to give younger children markers that they can use to decorate the outside of their pumpkins. Adults may also instruct children to create designs using a marker, and then adults may carve out those shapes.
Instead of a knife or other sharp blade, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (AAHS) recommends adults use a pumpkin saw to carve a pumpkin using small strokes pointed away from themselves and others. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a flashlight or glow stick to light the pumpkin from the inside instead of using a candle. However, if an adult chooses to use a candle, the pumpkin should not be placed in an area where visitors or pedestrians may walk by it, and the lit pumpkin should never be left unattended.
Halloween Accident Attorneys
Panter, Panter, and Sampedro wish you a safe, spooky, and fun-filled Halloween. However, if you experience an event, which causes injury to yourself or a loved one due to the negligence of another, it is important you immediately contact an experienced personal injury attorney. With over thirty years of experience, we may be able to help you recover financially from the losses incurred due to a negligent incident. Give us a call at (305) 662-6178 for a free case review.
Sources:
https://www.safekids.org/halloween
https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/autumn-safety/halloween
https://www.hiaonline.org/page/safety
