Halloween is almost here. Although many people are busy figuring out their costumes or putting up ghastly and ghoulish decorations, it is still important to take some precautions. Halloween can be especially dangerous for children and teens, but the good news is that there are plenty of relatively simple steps people can take to stay safe and keep things fun. To ring in the upcoming spooky season, we have compiled some helpful safety tips below.

Sadly, Halloween is not just fun and games. According to SKW (Safe Kids Worldwide), children are twice as likely to be struck by a car and killed on Halloween than they are on any other night of the year. Some tips from SKW and the National Safety Council (NSC) include:

• Always join children under the age of 12 for trick-or-treating
• Carry glow sticks or flashlights, use reflective tape or stickers on costumes or bags, and wear light colors to help kids see and be seen by drivers
• Remind children to always cross at corners or designated crosswalks
• Teach children that when they are crossing the street to look left, right, and then left again
• Keep an eye out for cars that are turning or backing up
• Teach your children to never enter a stranger’s home or vehicle
• For children over the age of 12, agree on a specific time that they must return home. Before allowing older children and teens to go trick-or-treating alone, plan and review an acceptable route for them to take that the entire family agrees on
• Tell children not to eat any treats until they return home
• Be wary of food allergies

Drivers should be particularly cautious on Halloween day and night. However, since the holiday falls on a Tuesday this year festivities will also take place the weekend before. Drivers should heed the following advisories:

• Slow down and be alert! Kids are excited on Halloween and are more likely to dart out into the street. Turn on headlights early in the day to be able to spot kids from further away
• Watch out for kids crossing the street mid-block and not at crosswalks or corners
• Drive slowly and be extremely alert
• Keep an eye out for children walking on medians, roadways and curbs
• Keep phones down and away so you are not distracted. Avoid all other distractions, such as eating, drinking, and messing with the GPS, as well
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys with caution
• Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving in Halloween or the weekend before it

While costumes are arguably one of the most important – and one of the most fun – aspects of Halloween, they too come with their own unique risks and hazards. Here are some costume-specific safety tips to keep in mind:

• When picking a costume, make sure that it is the right size to prevent tripping and falling. Choose face paint over masks whenever possible, because masks can impair children’s vision
• Make sure that all costumes, wigs and accessories are fire-resistant
• Use nontoxic Halloween makeup as a good, safe alternative to wearing a mask
• Remove all makeup before going to bed to prevent skin and/or eye irritation

Cars, travel, costumes, and candy are all important Halloween safety issues to tackle, but so is preventing other types of avoidable injuries. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 3,500 children, teens and adults sustain Halloween-related injuries that are serious enough to require emergency medical treatment each year. Most of these injuries involve lacerations that stem from carving pumpkins, though some other top causes of preventable injuries include falls while putting up or taking down decorations, trick-or-treating, or tripping on a costume. To avoid injuries like these, the CPSC recommends:

• Leave the pumpkin carving to the adults. Don’t worry, there are plenty of safe ways to involve children in the fun. You can let them use a spoon to scoop out the pumpkin’s insides or use a marker to trace a design
• When putting up decorations or removing them, use a ladder and follow the manufacturer’s instructions
• Only use lights that were safety tested by a recognized testing facility. Before installing any lights, check them for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires and loose connections. If the lights show any sign of damage, discard them
• The safest decorations around the house are battery-operated lights and glow sticks. However, if you choose to use open-flame candles instead, please be sure to keep them away from curtains, decorations and any other combustibles that could catch fire. Never leave a burning candle unattended

Our team at Galfand Berger wishes you and your loved ones a happy, healthy and, most importantly, a very spooky Halloween!

Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

If you have questions about filing a claim for injuries you sustained, contact the Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.