Halloween is all about fun – with costumes, candy, and roaming around in the dark thrown in for good measure. While we all hopefully made the most of Halloween 2021, accidents happen. If you or someone you love was injured in an accident caused by a motorist’s negligence this Halloween – or any time – don’t wait to consult with an experienced South Carolina pedestrian accident attorney.
The CDC Tells It Like It Is
Many parents were concerned about whether or not trick or treating was a viable option this year – in light of COVID-19. Fortunately, a recent interview with the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – reported by CNBC – provides parents with some clear guidance and a bit of a go-ahead to get out there and have some fun this All Hallows’ Eve.
- The best advice is to trick or treat outside – staying away from crowded indoor parties – and limiting exposure to crowds in general.
- Stick to trick or treating in small groups.
- Children who are not yet 12 years old should trick or treat with a responsible adult.
- Ultimately, we know how to keep our children safe in the face of a pandemic, and applying these general rules to trick or treating is going to go a long way toward keeping your children safe this Halloween.
- Masks and Halloween just go together, so masking up your kids against COVID shouldn’t be a problem this year.
In one for the win column, a COVID-19 vaccine for children who are in the age group of from 5 to 11 years is ready to be approved and to burst on the scene at any moment.
Safe Costumes
You’re ready to get back out there and trick or treat this year, but there’s more to keeping your kids safe than keeping your celebrations outside and your groups small. It’s also important to think about safety as it relates to your children’s costumes, and the National Safety Council (NSC) has a thing or two to say on the matter. Trick or treating is likely to involve your children being out when the sun is setting – and older kids may even be out after dark – which makes ensuring they are easy to see essential. Having your kids wear an outer garment that is reflective, attaching reflective tape to their costumes, and/or ensuring that your children carry lit flashlights or glowsticks are good ways to help motorists see them in their midst. Other safety considerations to keep in mind regarding your children’s costumes include:
- Ensure that your children’s costumes, wigs, and accessories are all fire-resistant (in accordance with all consumer safety regulations)
- Ensure that your children’s costumes are neither too big nor too long for them, which can present a tripping hazard
- Makeup is a safer option than a full-face Halloween mask (which can make it difficult to see), and if you’re using makeup, choose a nontoxic option that you gently remove before your children go to bed (to help prevent irritation to the skin or eyes)
Pedestrian Safety
The most profound safety concern your children face when they are trick or treating is being injured in a pedestrian accident. In fact, Safe Kids Worldwide reports that children are more than twice as likely to be fatally wounded in pedestrian accidents on Halloween night than they are any other time of the year. All of the following factors are likely to contribute to this sobering statistic:
- Far more children are out after dark on Halloween than on any other night of the year.
- Children are about as excited as they get on Halloween (which is really saying something), and they’re likely to exhibit even less impulse control than usual, which can mean darting into the street unexpectedly and failing to cross where indicated.
- Adults also enjoy the Halloween spirit, and some of them enjoy it a bit too much, which can translate to impairment behind the wheel.
Protecting your children from pedestrian accidents is critical, and the following safety tips can help:
- Teach your children only to cross the street at corners and crosswalks (when it is safe to do so).
- Teach your children to make eye contact with the motorist behind the wheel of the stopped car they are crossing in front of.
- Teach your children to be even more careful when a car in their midst is backing up or making a turn and to never enter the street from in between two parked cars.
- If you end up driving anywhere on Halloween, make it your practice to slow down, to turn on your headlights early, and proceed with the utmost caution (excited children are far more likely to dart into the street when you least expect it).
- If your children have reached an age and level of maturity that leaves them ready to trick or treat on their own, make sure they plan their route ahead of time, stick to well-lit walking routes (with the fewest street crossings possible), and return home by a predetermined time.
Turn to an Experienced South Carolina Pedestrian Accident Attorney for the Legal Guidance You Need
Halloween is a magical evening that is full of spooky promise, but your children’s safety has to come before anything else. If a negligent motorist left your child injured in a pedestrian accident this Halloween, the accomplished South Carolina pedestrian accident attorneys at McCravy Law have the compassion, commitment, and legal insight to help. For more information, please don’t wait to contact or call us at 864-388-9100 today.
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