There is no doubt about it — Halloween 2020 is going to be different from celebrations in previous years. But you don’t have to let the kids down by not allowing trick-or-treating. But the fact remains that children have twice the risk of getting killed in a traffic accident on Halloween as they do on other days of the year.
No parent should have to endure the loss of their child. The following tips could help you keep your children from the same fate this Halloween.
- Costumes should end at mid-shin – Dressing your child in a costume that falls to their ankles or feet restricts their movement and can cause them to trip and fall in the path of a car or down a set of porch steps.
- Add reflective tape to the costume – When going from house to house, you want your child to be as visible as possible. Simply adding a strip or two of reflective tape to their costumes can help them remain seen by passing motorists.
- Have them carry a flashlight – Make sure that your children have a flashlight with them to help them see their path if they are out at dusk or after dark.
- Teach kids to cross the street at crosswalks – This safety tip is good to keep in mind every day of the year. But some neighborhoods may lack marked crosswalks. The next best option is to walk to the corner and cross at the intersection. Tell your children never to dart from between two parked cars to cross the road.
If disaster falls, you must act quickly
In a worst-case scenario, if your child gets hit by a car this Halloween, they will need immediate medical treatment. Later, you may want to make a claim against the at-fault driver whose negligence caused your child to get injured.