Happy Halloween!
We all love Halloween; from trick or treating to ghoulish parties, there is something for everyone.
Unfortunately, there are risks that everyone should be aware of around this time of year – particularly if you also have young children to consider. We have written this blog to highlight some of the risks associated with Halloween that don’t come down to scary characters such as witches or ghosts.
As big fans of Halloween, we want to ensure that everybody has fun whilst remaining vigilant and safe.
Trick or Treating Safely
Walk Safely
– Cross the street at corners, using zebra crossings and the green man where possible.
– Look left, right and left again when crossing the road and ensure you keep looking as you cross.
– Don’t look down at your phone or other electronic devices whilst walking, particularly when crossing the road.
– Always walk on the pavement.
– Keep an eye out for cars that are turning or parking. Teach children to never run out into the street or cross between parked cars.
Trick or Treat with an Adult
– Any children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If children are mature enough to be out trick or treating without adult supervision, they should be in familiar areas that are well lit and go out in groups.
– If children are old enough to go out on their own, walkie talkies are a great way to keep in touch and ensure that they are safe.
Other tips and tricks
– Consider giving your child a torch to carry and adding glowsticks to their costume to improve visibility
– Ensure that children bring all sweets home to check for choking hazards or allergies and that all sweets are wrapped.
– Tell children to respect neighbours and do not enter any house under any circumstance.
– Set a route and time for return.
Keep Costumes Safe
– As already touched on, decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape, stickers or glowsticks. Choose as light colours as possible.
– Do not obstruct vision – choose face paint and make up where possible rather than masks.
– Make sure the costumes fits to size to prevent slips, trips and falls.
– Ensure you choose a costume that is not flammable. There have been many horrifying cases where children or adult costumes have caught fire causing severe injuries. Halloween costumes are listed at toys and are not subjected to regulated clothing standards, which means that a child’s outfit does not have to be fireproofed to the regulated standard.
– Leave sharp and pointy props at home.
Driving Safely on Halloween
Even if you are not taking part in Halloween celebrations it is incredibly important to stay vigilant and drive safely.
– Drive slowly particularly in residential areas. Excitable children can move in unpredictable ways. Anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic.
– Take extra time to look for children at junctions, crossing the road and when parking.
– Enter driveways and lanes slowly and carefully.
– Eliminate any distractions inside your car e.g. loud music so that you can concentrate and the road and your surroundings.
– The most popular trick-or-treating hours are between 5:30 and 9:30 pm. So be especially alert for children during these hours.
So, there you have it, your guide to a safer Halloween. We’d love to hear from you about what you’ll be up to on Halloween – get in touch via twitter @ajuda_training. Remember to have fun, stay safe and have a very Happy Halloween!
