Halloween Safety For Kids [AUDIO]

New research from Safe Kids shows on average, twice as many child pedestrians are killed while walking on Halloween compared to other days of the year. Safe Kids Missoula Coordinator Heidi Morris  strongly recommends that parents prepare children to behave safely and for drivers to take extra precautions during the festivities. That interview is attached below.

To ensure a safer celebration of Halloween, Safe Kids and FedEx recommend the following tips to parents and caregivers:

Trick-or-Treating Safety:

• Children under 12 should trick-or-treat and cross streets with an adult.
• Always walk on sidewalks or paths.  If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
• Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, choose light colored costumes that fit properly and avoid carrying sticks, swords, or other sharp objects.
• Check treats for signs of tampering before children are allowed to eat them.  Candy should be thrown away if the wrapper is faded, torn, or unwrapped.

What Drivers Need to Know:

• Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods.  Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
• Anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on early in the day so you can spot children from greater distances.
• Remember that costumes can limit children’s visibility and they may not be able to see your vehicle.
• Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.