By LIFELines Staff Writer
Falling Down will Wreck the Night!
Falling is the number one accident on Halloween night - by a four to one margin - according to the State Centers for Accident and Disease Control. The next is pedestrian auto accidents. The reasons are obvious; improperly fitting costumes, masks that block vision and hearing, and children crowded together, pushing, in a hurry to get to the next house. There are basic safety tips that can insure your family has a safe Halloween night. And, since Halloween is up there in the top five most magical and exciting holidays, it’s a good idea for parents to know what to say to their children about safety.
Halloween night, however, is not the time to spring a list of safety tips on your children. Because of the excitement of the night, the sugar they may have consumed before going out, and the natural ability of children to tune adults out, you may want to begin addressing this issue long before then. It’s easy to sneak in a safety tip here and there throughout the week before.
Watch out for those Spooks!
Let’s start with costumes the leading cause of falling accidents on Halloween. This can be alleviated by making sure the costume doesn’t drag the ground or tangle the legs. This is not weeding day. Let your spook try on his or her costume before the big night.
Check to see if it needs hemming. If you plan to buy a costume check the label and make sure it’s either flame retardant, or flame resistant. Polyester is generally the best choice of material.
Check to see if it needs hemming. If you plan to buy a costume check the label and make sure it’s either flame retardant, or flame resistant. Polyester is generally the best choice of material.
Other safety measures include making sure your child’s mask is easy to see out of. Better yet, skip the mask and use makeup. All of the major chain stores carry plenty of Halloween makeup at reasonable prices.
Have your child carry a flashlight, even if you’re going out with them, or one of the many glow sticks available. By going with children you are insuring their safety, but when you can’t, always make sure children travel in a group and there is someone old enough to supervise.
