Keep Kids Safe on Halloween
Halloween is a great holiday. The families at Cash, Krugler & Fredericks are looking forward to it. The air is crisp, neighborhoods are full to the brim with excited, costumed children. An enthusiastic “Trick-or-Treat” from first timers is enough to make even the scariest ghoul crack a smile. But in the midst of sugar-filled exuberance, we can’t forget safety.
Last year, the fun of Halloween ended abruptly and calamitously for one family in DeKalb County. Dressed as a princess, five-year old Autumn Mack was struck by a car while trick-or-treating with her mother. She sustained serious injuries and died at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston that Halloween night.
“The little girl was across the street with her mom,” said one witness. “The other little girls told her to come across the street, and her mom told her to wait, but she was just excited, I guess. She really didn’t hear her.”
Children are twice as likely to be struck by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. If you have a trick-or-treater at home, here are a few safety procedures to remember this year.
- Children under 12 should be supervised while trick-or-treating, so don a witch or wizard’s hat and walk the neighborhood with them! If your kids are old enough (and mature enough) to head out on their own this Halloween, make sure they know to stay in a group. Make sure your children know they’re to stay in known, well-lit areas.
- Pass out glow sticks or flashlights to help your kids see and be seen.
- Make sure your child’s costume fits so they’re not in danger of tripping.
- Most importantly: everyone’s costume should incorporate reflective material. Add reflective tape or stickers to costumes and bags. Pick light colors for costumes when possible. Masks can obstruct vision, so opt for fingerpaint instead.
Have a safe, fun and Happy Halloween, everyone!
