Halloween is quickly approaching, and that means individuals and families throughout New York are busy picking out costumes and decorating in anticipation of the big night. While this festive occasion can be a lot of fun, it also poses dangers for trick-or-treaters and their parents. This Halloween, it’s important to take safety precautions to prevent slips, falls, and other accidents, including car accidents. At the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP we genuinely care about your safety, and we hope you find our Halloween Safety Tips valuable!
Halloween Safety Tips
Young Children Should Always be Supervised
Young children should always be accompanied by an adult while trick-or-treating. Whether you join them on their Halloween adventure or ensure they’re with a trusted adult, supervision is key. If your older children are heading out without adult supervision, stress the importance of going in groups and staying together. Set agreed-upon check-in times and clearly define the areas where they’re allowed to go.
Costumes Should Make the Wearer More Visible, Not Less
In late October, the suns sets early. Children in dark-colored costumes can be difficult for drivers to see, which can lead to tragic accidents. Encourage your children to choose white or light-colored costumes to make themselves more visible. For added visibility, you can outfit them with reflectors and flashlights.
Trick-or-Treaters Should Always Follow Traffic Laws
Halloween is a notoriously dangerous night for collisions between motorists and trick-or-treaters. If you are a parent taking your children out on Halloween, make sure they follow all traffic laws like crossing the street at crosswalks and waiting until it is safe to do so before crossing. If you have older children who will be heading out on their own, go over pedestrian safety with them before they go out for the night.
Avoid Open Flames
This Halloween, choose LED candles for your jack-o-lanterns instead of actual candles. A child can accidentally kick over a jack-o-lantern and cause a fire.
Visibility Should Always be a Priority
Trick-or-treaters as well as adults giving out candy on Halloween night can take steps to increase visibility and prevent trips and falls.
Parents should steer their children toward costumes that do not obscure their vision. One way to do this is to choose make-up instead of a mask to alter a child’s appearance. When this is not possible, children should be instructed to remove their masks when walking from home to home.
Homeowners can also reduce tripping hazards by ensuring that their properties are well-lit. Make the path from the sidewalk to your front door obvious and if there are hazards you can not remove for Halloween, rope them off or make them obvious in another way to prevent accidents.
Speak to an Experienced Long Island Personal Injury Attorney
If you or your child are injured in an accident that could have been prevented, you have the right to pursue monetary compensation for your related damages through a personal injury claim. Learn more by scheduling your initial consultation with one of the personal injury attorneys on our team at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP. The consultation is free, and if you don’t win, we don’t get paid!
