Halloween is a favorite time of year for children and adults across New York City. Officials with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene are here to offer some life-saving safety tips to get you through All Hallow’s Eve.
Before you even leave the house, you want to make sure that costumes are appropriate. Keep safety as your number one concern. You want to make sure that their costumes are visible. Make sure their light colors and equipped with reflective materials so that they’re most visible to passing motorists. You also want to steer clear of masks. Consider using face paint as masks can obstruct a child’s vision. For teenagers and adults, decorative contact lenses can cause serious eye injury. Check with your doctor before wearing them. Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
And the risks don’t stop at the costume. Our New York City injury attorneys are reminding you about the risks for pedestrian accidents on Halloween night. On average, more than twice as many children are killed in pedestrian/car accidents on Halloween between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. than during the same hours on any other day of the year. According to AAA, October 31 is the deadliest night of the year for pedestrians.
Halloween Pedestrian Safety Tips:
-Stay away from neighborhood shortcuts. If you can, avoid cutting through residential streets where trick-or-treaters are likely to be walking.
-Always supervise trick-or-treaters who are under the age of 12.
-Instruct your children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and avoid trick-or-treating alone.
-Make sure children always use sidewalks. Never walk along the road.
-Cross the street only at intersections. Use a crosswalk when possible.
-Walk, do not run, from house to house.
-Avoid cutting through yards. You never know what kind of hidden dangers lurk in the grass.
-All groups should have a cell phone on hand in case of an emergency.
-Set a curfew. Avoid trick-or-treating after dark.
-Review safe walking rules with your child before setting out for the night.
-Plan a route and stick to it. Perhaps even draw a map.
Halloween Candy Safety Precautions:
-Make sure children are fed before heading out to make sure they won’t snack on un-inspected candy.
– Remember, some children have to follow certain dietary restrictions which prohibit them from eating the traditional treats we offer on Halloween.
-Be sure to inspect every piece of candy before turning it over to your child.
-Toss out any candy that is homemade or not wrapped in factory wrapping.
-Be cautious of choking hazards when allowing children to eat candy. Keep an eye on them while eating peanuts, gum, hard candies or small toys.
-When it doubt, throw it out.
-If there are any tiny pinholes or tears in wrappers — toss it out.
-Keep chocolate candy, raisins, and macadamia nuts away from dogs. It is toxic to them, even in small amounts.
The Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC offers free consultations. Call 1-877-313-7673.
More Blog Entries:
Protecting Our Youngest Passengers — Child Passenger Safety Week, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, September 24, 2013
Queens Injury Lawyers: Child Athlete Injured Every 25 Seconds in U.S., New York Injury Lawyer Blog, August 18, 2013
