Falling leaves, dropping temperatures, hay rides, bonfires, pumpkins and scare crows. Fall is here and Halloween will be upon us soon. Keep your children and your neighborhood children safe this Halloween. To assist, “Safe Kids Worldwide” “(http://www.safekids.org/tip/halloween-safety-tips) has posted Halloween Safety Tips to keep your children safe as well as children entering your neighborhood.
Walk Safely
- Cross at street corners, using traffic signals when possible. Always walk on sidewalks or paths
- Put electronic devices away
- Make eye contact with drivers before walking in front of them
- Watch for cars that are turning or backing up
Trick or Treat with an Adult
- Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night
- Stick to familiar areas and trick-or-treat in groups
Drive Extra Safely on Halloween
- Slow down in residential areas
- Enter and exit driveways slowly and carefully
- Don’t drive distracted
- Take extra time to look for walkers at intersections or on curbs
- Turn your lights on a little earlier than usual
Keep Costumes both Creative and Safe
- Use reflective tape
- Carry a glow stick or flashlight
- Wear the correct size to prevent trips and falls
- Consider face paint versus masks
Halloween is one of the most anticipated nights of the year for children and one of the most fun and exciting times for adults and children alike. Keeping it safe for all visitors is a responsibility facing all homeowners and drivers. Safe Kids’ Research shows some scary statistics on Halloween Safety.
Only a small percentage of parents talk to their children about Halloween safety. On average, twice as many children pedestrians are killed while walking on Halloween compared to other days of the year. Only 18% of parents use reflective tape on their children’s costumes.
The risk of injury begins at your property line. Before turning on your lights for trick-or-treaters, walk the route to your front door. Is the path clear and easily accessible? Remove any trip hazards trick-or-treaters may encounter on the way such as garden hoses, lawn decorations, bicycles or sport equipment.
Good lighting is essential for home safety. We are all tempted to make everything a little darker, a little scarier, and more mysterious but this also creates the risk of injury. Lighting the entry way also sends a message that visitors are welcome.
For those children old enough to go trick or treating but not old enough to go alone, a parent with a flashlight can help young children travel safely while alerting drivers. Applying reflective tape also alerts drivers to drive cautiously.
Are your current home and auto liability limits sufficient to protect you? If you’re not sure, please give us a call at 410-224-2664 and one of our professional and knowledgeable agents will be happy to review your current coverage with you or provide a comparable quote to your current coverage.
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