Halloween & Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips

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Trick-or-treatersIn Celtic mythology, Samhain is a pagan event that invites supernatural beings and the souls of the dead into our world. While we’ve abandoned the problematic rituals, our culture certainly hasn’t lost the spirit. Each Halloween sees flocks of costumed children and adults roaming residential tracks and urban areas in pursuit of candy, parties, and spooky adventures. Whether you’re interested in trick-or-treating events, horror movie marathons, or haunted houses, you can bet that Halloween has a little something special just for you.

Sadly, emergency rooms are flooded all throughout the month of October due to Halloween-related injuries. Of course, Halloween night itself is the greatest offender when it comes to accidents and tragedies. Once the morning of November 1st hits, countless news outlets and safety groups release updated statistics relaying the various dangers associated with this beloved holiday.

At DiPasquale Moore, our Kansas City & Topeka personal injury attorneys want to help you and your family stay safe this Halloween. Please review this list of safety tips to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable Halloween experience.

Tip #1: Wear Safe Costumes

Children and adults spend months preparing the perfect Halloween costume. Unfortunately, ill-advised costume choices can easily lead to accidents and injuries. It’s important to make sure that your children only wear costumes and accessories that don’t obstruct their vision and are fire-resistant. If your family is trick-or-treating at night, make sure everyone is wearing reflective tape and using flashlights or glowsticks.

Tip #2: Plan Out Your Trick-Or-Treating Route

A responsible adult should always plan out a safe trick-or-treating route in advance. It’s even better if you can prepare a group outing with other families in the neighborhood. You may be able to avoid a tragic car accident by wearing a safe costume and traveling with a large party.

It’s important that your children are supervised by a trustworthy adult throughout their trick-or-treating adventure. This person can ensure that your children stay on well-lit sidewalks, cross the street at designated corners, and don’t accept rides from strangers. It’s also imperative that your children don’t eat any chocolate or candy until you’ve had a chance to review their haul. Malicious people have been known to tamper with candy on the off chance of hurting a child. When your tired children come home, check every piece of candy for razor blades, drugs, staples, and needles.

It’s not unusual for older children to want to trick-or-treat without mom and dad. If you find yourself in this situation, just take the following 3 steps:

  1. Decide on a route in advance so you can look for your children if necessary
  2. Remind them to call or text every so often
  3. Agree on a specific time they should come home

Tip #3: Drive Safely

Halloween is meant to be a night of spooky fun and safe escapades. The last thing you want is to hurt a jaywalking child in a careless moment of distraction. According to the National Safety Council, 18% of Halloween traffic fatalities occur at road crossings and intersections due to poor visibility. Terrifyingly, children are twice as likely to be killed walking on Halloween than any other day of the year.

If you’re driving on Halloween, make sure to follow these guidelines:

  • Drive slowly in residential areas between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
  • Keep your headlights on, even if it isn’t dark out
  • Never use your cell phone or fiddle with the radio
  • Don’t drive if you’re intoxicated
  • Always look out for jaywalking trick-or-treaters
  • Be hypervigilant at crossroads
  • Carefully enter and exit your driveway

Injured due to someone’s negligent actions? Schedule a Consultation to Learn Your Options

A single moment of carelessness can irrevocably change a person’s life forever. If you’re injured due to a person’s negligent actions, contact the Kansas City & Topeka personal injury lawyers at DiPasquale Moore. During your free consultation, we can discuss your injury, explore your legal options, and determine a litigation strategy that meets your legal and financial objectives. Let us focus on the favorable outcome for you while you recover from your injury.

Call DiPasquale Moore at (816) 888-7500 to schedule a free consultation.

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