As ghosts and goblins gear up for a night out on the town, their parents often wonder how to keep them safe while enjoying all the fun Halloween has to offer. Glober Law Firm, Jacksonville personal injury attorneys, offers nine tips to help children stay safe on Oct. 31. Follow these Jacksonville Halloween safety tips for parents:
- Watch your step: As children donning creative costumes dart from house to house, they sometimes forget to look for hidden dangers. And sometimes costumes limit kids’ vision. Remember to help kids look for cracks in the pavement, holes in the ground, gaps in sidewalks or slick floors that could easily cause them to slip and fall.
- Monitor candy and other recalls: With a large number of different candies and products designed to promote the Halloween season, some foods, costumes and decorations are recalled. Many United States government agencies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the United States Coast Guard, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, list a variety of recalls on one website, recalls.gov. Check the site regularly for recalls or click here to find some recalls on the Glober Law Firm website.
- Carve carefully: Take care when carving pumpkins to make jack-0-lanterns. You or your kids can easily cut yourself or others while adding eyes or a mouth to your creation.
- Forget the flames: Make sure your children’s costumes (and yours if you plan to wear one) are flame resistant. Steer clear of lit candles and luminaries and try battery-operated flameless candles in your jack-o-lanterns. If you choose to use real candles, utilize long, fireplace matches to light up carved pumpkins.
- Care for your costumes: Check costumes for long tassels or loose parts that small children can swallow, possibly causing them to choke. Ensure your costumes, masks and shoes fit properly to avoid tripping, falling or blocking your child’s vision. If your child elects to wear makeup, try it in a small patch first to ensure it doesn’t cause an allergic reaction. Make sure potentially dangerous costume pieces like swords, knives and other accessories are short, soft and flexible. Remember to make sure your children wear reflective tape and carry a flashlight so drivers can see your children as they walk from house to house.
- Go with groups: Grab a group and walk together for safety. Make sure your children always have at least one trusted adult with them while trick-or-treating
- Watch for cars: While trick or treating hours vary from city to city, children are often out in costumes while many adults are still driving home from work. Make sure children use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing the street.
- Check treats before consuming: While kids are often eager to try their Halloween bounty as soon as they return home, parents need to examine candy or other treats before letting children eat them. Look for signs of tampering including tears or pinholes and make sure young children don’t eat anything that could cause them to choke, such as peanuts, gum or hard candies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also recommends parents only allow their children to accept and eat candy that is commercially wrapped on Halloween.
- Stay away from strangers: Ensure your children trick or treat with a trusted adult and only visit well-lit houses. Tell them to only enter homes with a well-trusted adult and ensure they never accept rides from strangers.
Halloween is a favorite holiday of many children and with a few simple safety steps, parents can ensure their children are happy and safe on Oct. 31.
Glober Law Firm is a Jacksonville personal injury law firm. Glober Law Firm’s personal injury attorneys represent victims of auto accidents, bicycle accidents, dog bites and attacks, head and spinal cord injuries, motorcycle accidents, negligent hiring, negligent security, pedestrian accidents, physical assaults, premises liability, slip and fall accidents and wrongful death. For more information about Glober Law Firm, visit our website homepage.
The contents of this page is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.
