4 Halloween Safety Tips to “Live Safe, Work Safe”
As part of our “Live Safe Work Safe” mantra, we’d like to encourage all families participating in Halloween festivities this evening to practice the following safety tips! Whether you’re a parent, a grandparent or a neighbor, remember that “People Matter” and only YOU can prevent accidents.
1. Trick or Treat: Walking Safety Tips
Twice as many children are killed while walking on Halloween than any other day of the year, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Walking around at night, wearing costumes that might affect visibility or mobility, and possible drunk drivers all contribute to this alarming statistic.
The good news? Talking to your kids to go over safety rules prior to trick or treating can make a huge difference so your little ghosts, goblins and monsters go to bed safe and sound tonight. Go over the basics: don’t cross the street until you’ve looked both ways, only cross at crosswalks, and stay on sidewalks. Talk to teens about putting smart phones down while walking. And of course, make sure all children are accompanied by adults. When crossing the street, make eye contact with drivers to make sure they see you.
Halloween can be an exciting time for children – meeting up with friends! Showing off costumes! It’s more important than ever to talk about safety on Halloween night, so no one go darting across the street in pursuit of candy!
2. Boo! Dressing Up Safely and Visibly
While most children already have their costumes picked out, it’s not too late to add some safety touches. Bright-colored costumes are ideal, but you can always add reflective tape to costumes and candy bags to make sure drivers and other pedestrians can spot you. Provide flash lights or glow sticks to all children so they can easily see and be seen.
Nationwide suggests going with face paint instead of masks, as walking around in a mask could lead to falls or limited visibility. Little ones can have sensitive skin – so double-check that all face paint is non-toxic.
3. Sweet! Preventing Choking Hazards for Little Ones
Some hard, gooey or sticky candies could pose choking hazards, especially for those under the age of four. The CDC offers a list of foods to avoid here.
It’s also a safe bet to throw away any homemade treats or unwrapped candies that are passed out, just to be extra safe.
4. Celebrate Responsibly: Driving with Kiddos in Mind
If you do go out tonight, use common sense. Drive extra slow and never use smartphones or other devices while driving. If you plan on having a drink, get a designated driver. It’s not just about your own safety, it’s about the safety of all the children and families enjoying this spooky holiday.
For those of you with new and inexperienced drivers in your household, it can’t hurt to prohibit driving on Halloween.
According to the National Safety Council, the chances of having a fatal car accident are 3x more likely at night. This Sunday, we “fall back” an hour as Daylight Savings Time ends. Keep this in mind and drive cautiously in the coming weeks as you adjust to shorter days and darker evenings.
Safety at Home and at Work
Here at Eldeco, we are committed to safety. It’s part of our company culture. This Halloween, we offer you this call to action: take Safety home and make it part of your household’s everyday life. It’s important that all of our associates arrive to work safely each day… and that your children return to school safely tomorrow.
Have a happy Halloween!