McLeod Safe Kids offers Halloween safety tips

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Everyone loves a good scare on Halloween, but not when it comes to child safety. There are several easy and effective behaviors that parents can share with kids to help reduce their risk of injury. On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

McLeod Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal reminds parents of the following Halloween tips to keep their children safe:

Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe

  • Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
  • Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
  • Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
  • When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Walk Safely

  • Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
  • Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
  • Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
  • Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
  • Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
  • Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Trick or Treat with an Adult

  • Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, remind them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

Drive Extra Safely on Halloween

  • Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
  • Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
  • Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
  • Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
  • Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
  • Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

For more information, call McLeod Safe Kids at 843-777-5021.

About McLeod Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal 

McLeod Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in the United States. McLeod Safe Kids is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. McLeod Safe Kids, led by McLeod Health, was founded in 1994 and is funded in part by the McLeod Health Foundation. If you would like more information about safety topics, call 843-777-5021 or visit McLeodSafeKids.org.