Halloween is one of the most dangerous days of the year for children in New York City.
Our young ghost, goblins and witches will be out along our roadways in full force. It’s not their costumes that are scary, but the risks for accidents. More child pedestrian accidents happen on Halloween than any other day of the year. Older revelers are no safer and the presence of pedestrians in costume always adds to the degree of difficulty for motorists. And drunk driving accidents are more likely.
Our Queens injury lawyers are here to offer you some important safety tips courtesy of the City of New York.
Make sure that you review these safety tips and share them with the young ones in your family before heading out on your Halloween adventures.
Halloween Safety Tips:
-Make sure that your child is visible. You want to make sure that they’re wearing a brightly-colored costume. Make sure even their treat bag is bright. You should put reflective materials on their costume too, to make sure they’re easily seen by drivers.
-Their costumes should fit well and avoid blocking vision or trip hazards. The accessories to their costumes, like canes, swords and even jewlery, should not be too long and should not be too sharp.
-For teens and young adults, decorative lenses can cause serious eye injury. Make sure that you talk with your doctor before wearing any of these.
-Costumes, wigs and even beards should be flame-resistant. Never walk near lit candles or luminaries.
-Give each child a flashlight so they can see their surroundings and to help drivers to see them better.
-Make sure that their costumes are the appropriate size.
-Make sure that all young children are supervised by an adult during their trick-or-treating.
-Never allow your child to go into anyone’s home.
-Teach your child to look both ways before crossing the street.
-Make sure that you only cross the street at street corners or at crosswalks.
-Parents should always examine their child’s trick-or-treat candy before allowing them to eat it. Get rid of any treats that are open, are homemade or look like they’ve been tampered with.
-If you’re staying home and handing out candy, consider handing out healthy candy, like individually wrapped string cheese or wrapped fruit.
-Make sure your sidewalks are clear of clutter and other obstacles.
-When carving a pumping, always supervise children. Never allow them to use a knife.
-Make sure that you choose a trick-or-treating route in an area that you know well and an area that is well-lit.
Drivers are asked to be extra cautious, especially when driving through residential areas. Kids are likely to be walking along our streets. Go slow and pay attention. Keep distractions out of the driver’s seat and be ready for kids to dart out into the street. Young children are not familiar with the workings or the dangers presented by vehicular traffic. Think ahead of them and help to keep them safe on this dangerous holiday.
Be safe and have a Happy Halloween!
If you or your child has been injured in an accident, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC for a free and confidential appointment. Call 718-261-0546.
More Blog Entries:
New York Child Injuries Because of Negligence Discussed in Davis v. Devereux Foundation , New York Injury Lawyer Blog, April 20, 2012
New York Injury Watch: If Child Had Food Allergies, Pace v State of Maryland Says Pack Your Children’s Lunch , New York Injury Lawyer Blog, March 11, 2012
