According to the National Safety Council, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Additionally, October is the second leading month for motor vehicle deaths with 3,550.
To help ensure adults and children have a safe holiday, the American Academy of Pediatrics has compiled this list of Halloween Safety Tips:
- A responsible adult should always accompany young children
- If older kids go alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you
- Older kids should travel in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with friends
- Agree on a specific time children should return home
- Wear reflective tape on costumes and bags
- Avoid masks, which can obstruct vision
- Remind kids to keep their heads up, look both ways, and walk (don’t run) across streets
- All pedestrians (kids, teens and adults) should put phones down when walking around and crossing streets
- Kids should never enter a stranger’s home or car
- Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home
- All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant
- When buying Halloween makeup, make sure it is nontoxic and always test it in a small area first
- Remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation
NSC offers these additional safety tips for anyone who plans to be on the road during trick-or-treat hours:
- Put your phone down and eliminate distractions
- Watch for children walking on roadways and sidewalks
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully
- At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing
- Go extra slow in subdivisions – where children could dart across streets unexpectedly
- Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween
Matt, Matt and Anne wish everyone a safe Halloween.
Casey, Devoti & Brockland is a St. Louis-based law firm focused exclusively on personal injury litigation. Since 1983, our attorneys have helped injured people navigate the road to recovery by securing compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost wages. Together Partners Matt Casey, Matt Devoti and Anne Brockland have nearly 50 years of trial experience handling the following personal injury matters: car, truck and train crashes, victims of impaired and distracted driving, medical malpractice, birth injuries, product liability, premises liability, elder and sexual abuse, Workers’ Compensation and wrongful death. We proudly serve clients throughout metropolitan St. Louis, southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois.
Our highly accessible attorneys deliver the perfect balance of aggressive legal representation, compassion and personal service. If you or a loved one have been injured by the negligence of another, call the office today for a free, no-obligation consultation: (314) 421-0763.
