The spookiest day of the year is tomorrow.
If your little ghosts and goblins are going to be venturing out to collect some candy, it’s important to make sure they’re staying safe.
“I would definitely recommend that parents stress the normal safety rules that they use when their kids are out playing,” says Gina Robinson, a pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic Children’s. “Right before you go out, just remind them no running across the street, look both ways for traffic, be aware of what you’re doing, pay attention to your surroundings.”
Dr. Robinson also recommends making sure your child’s costume fits well since they’ll be doing a lot of walking.
If it’s too long, they could easily trip and fall, which is actually one of the main ways kids tend to get hurt on Halloween.
In addition, she suggests putting some kind of reflective tape on their costume, so they’re more visible at night.
According to Children’s Safety Network, Halloween is the deadliest day of the year for child pedestrians. On average, over two times as many child pedestrians die on Halloween compared to other days.
Other Halloween Safety Tips
-Costumes should be made of fireproof fabric and include reflectors and bright colors
-Costumes should not obstruct vision or movement
-Bring flashlights or glow sticks to increase visibility
-Adults should accompany children under 12. Children over 12 should go in groups and stick to familiar areas
-Always cross at street corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks
-Look left-right-left when crossing and keep eye contact with drivers to make sure they see you
-Watch out for cars backing out of driveways
