Halloween is my family's favorite holiday. We attend several parties and of course go Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood. As a parent you want to make sure your little ghouls and goblins are safe as they haunt the neighborhood after dark. One thing we always do is clip our flashing bicycle light to our daughter's costume.
Moira Donahue is a child pedestrian expert. She is working with FedEx and Safe Kids USA to help make kids safe this Halloween. Here are her tips for both pedestrians and drivers for All Hallow's Eve:
For kids:
- Always trick-or-treat with an adult until age 10
- Only trick-or-treat in familiar areas that are well lit
- Cross streets at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks
- Look left, right and left again when crossing; always walk, don’t run, when crossing streets
- Make eye contact with drivers and watch for cars that are turning or backing up
- Walk on sidewalks or paths; if there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible
- Never dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars
- Wear light-colored, flame-retardant, costumes decorated with retro-reflective tape or stickers
- Wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes to prevent trips and falls
- Carry a flashlight or glow stick to increase visibility to drivers
- Wear face paint and makeup; a mask can restrict a child’s vision
- Be especially alert in residential neighborhoods
- Drive more slowly and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic on and near the road
- Be sure to drive with your full headlights on so you can spot children from greater distances
- Take extra time to actively look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs
- Remember that costumes can limit children’s visibility and they may not be able to see your vehicle
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully
- Remember that children are excited on this night and may move in unpredictable ways
- Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are during the typical rush-hour period, between 5:30-9:30 p.m.
- Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and pedestrians
WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: SAFETY
Prize: Trick-or-Treat Bag filled with safety goodies
Number of Winners: Three
Enter By: October 27
Entry Form:
Because this is a time sensitive prize, we are asking for your shipping info on the entry form. This info will not be used for any other purpose other than to quickly ship the prize to winners in time for Halloween. Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.
This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!
Disclosure: These tips are provided by FedEx and Safe Kids USA. I was provided with Trick-or-Treat bags for my children.
