Did you know?
Halloween poses severe safety risks for pedestrians due to low visibility, distracted kids in restrictive costumes and an uptick in impaired drivers. According to the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) of Canada, children face triple the risk of serious pedestrian injuries on Halloween night, with the danger jumping up to 10 times higher for children between the ages of four and eight.
The excitement of costumes and treats makes Halloween magical for kids—but it also makes them vulnerable. Amid the thrill, children easily forget safety rules, and research reveals that these festive distractions dramatically raise their risk of traffic-related injuries.
A safe Halloween is a great Halloween! Keeping our community safe and secure is everyone’s responsibility—whether you’re a parent, guardian, or celebrating the night. Check out these simple safety tidbits before heading out.
Safety First: Avoid the dangers when decorating
- Ensure you keep a path leading up to your door clear of decorations and other obstacles.
- Use a flashlight, battery-operated candles or glowsticks in jack-o’-lanterns; lit candles are associated with many preventable fires—some fatal—each year throughout Canada.
- It’s vital to ensure children are watched at all times when candles are lit.
- Ensure combustible Halloween decorations, such as crepe paper, cornstalks, dried leaves in those pumpkin garbage bags and dried flowers are kept well away from flame sources and other sources of heat, including light bulbs and heaters.
- If you’re using decorative lights, indoors or outdoors, use lights certified by a recognized organization such as CSA, ULC, cUL, or cETL etc.
- Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections; discard damaged sets.
- Outdoor electrical outlets should have Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs); the GFCIs should also have weatherproof covers to prevent moisture from getting in.
- DO NOT OVERLOAD extension cords!
- Avoid plugging too many lights and decorations into an outlet; overloaded circuits can overheat and start a fire.
- CHECK for OVERHEAD POWER LINES before using a ladder when hanging lights or decorations on trees or anywhere outside your home.
Safe costumes: Choose them wisely
- Select costumes and accessories that are less likely to catch on fire, such as those made of nylon or heavyweight polyester; some costumes may be labelled flame-resistant, but remember, flame-resistant does not mean fireproof.
- Choose brightly coloured costumes, reflective tape, or armbands to heighten visibility, as well as properly fitted ones that can be worn over warm clothing to protect your child against cold and wet weather.
- Boost visibility by accessorizing costumes with flashlights and glowsticks
- Avoid costumes that are too big or have long dangling pieces so as to reduce the chance of tripping and falling over.
- If using props, such as a flexible, plastic sword or knife, make sure the sharp tip is cut off or filed round.
- Footwear should fit properly, even if it does not match the costume.
Non-toxic face paint over masks
- Masks can make it hard for children to see properly and often restrict peripheral vision, making it difficult to check for oncoming traffic before crossing a road.
- Many masks for sale during the Halloween season actually require that the eye-holes be cut larger for the sake of good peripheral vision.
- Consider non-toxic face paint or make-up instead of masks; before using face paint or make-up, do a patch test to see if your child is sensitive or allergic to something in the cosmetic; even products labelled as “hypoallergenic” can still cause allergic reactions.
Don’t miss next week’s Safety Tidbits Column! I’ll be sharing a second round of some Halloween safety tidbits.
Remember, taking the time to learn and practice injury prevention costs you nothing. Failing to do so could lead to the unthinkable … the loss of your life or the lives of those you hold dear.
Safety—it starts with you.
