What parents should protect their children from on Halloween – Deseret News

It’s time again for parents to share warnings with each other via social media, advising each other to check their children on Halloween for hidden horrors such as blades, needles and drugs.

But how worried should parents really be about finding these things in their kids’ candy, and is there anything more sinister that they should be protecting their kids from at treat time?

The number of accidents increases on Halloween

According to Safe children around the worldof a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing childhood injuries and deaths, Halloween is more than twice as likely to cause children to be hit and killed by a car than any other day of the year. And, according to National Road Safety Administrationon Halloween, the number of fatal road accidents increased by 13%.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) states that pedestrian deaths in car crashes increase by 43% on Halloween, with children ages 4 to 8 at greatest risk, who are 10 times more likely to die in a car crash. Of all the accidents that happened on Halloween, 39% involved drunk or drunk drivers.

As children go on their sweet adventures under the cover of darkness, there are several ways parents can help their children be more alert and safe on the streets, whether they live in the suburbs, the city or a small town. city.

These activities from Safe Kids Worldwide include:

• Children should carry flashlights and/or glow sticks to make them more visible to drivers.
• Wear light colors or wear something that contrasts with the dark colors of the suit.
• Parents must accompany children under the age of 12 during the entertainment.
• Fans should only cross the street at designated crosswalks, such as corners and crosswalks, where possible.
• Paint children’s faces instead of giving them masks to prevent visual impairment. In the same way, suits should fit correctly so that you do not trip or the fabric catches on something.
• Talk to your children about drink driving and road safety so they understand the dangers that can lie in wait for them on the roads when they are walking in the dark.

Drivers must also take precautions to avoid accidents. MADD describes these measures:

• If you plan to drink or use drugs, plan ahead. Do not get behind the wheel drunk. Instead, plan to use a ridesharing service or get a friend or family member to drive you back and forth.
• Be alert. Even if you have no violations, the influx of people on the roads can catch the most attentive drivers by surprise. Watch for children crossing the road, in and out of crosswalks. They cannot wear bright colors or have lights/reflectors.
• Parents should talk to their children about underage drinking and driving and encourage them to make safe choices no matter what.

Stay safe on Halloween in general

In addition to car accidents, parents need to be aware of the potential risks to their children, which unfortunately include other people. Parents should advise children who go outside unsupervised to stay in groups, avoid dark houses and alleys, and be aware of the people around them.

For children with food allergies, parents should make sure their children do not eat the candy before its ingredients have been tested, carry an epi-syringe for more serious allergies, keep in touch with other parents to let them know about their child’s allergies, and do not assume that familiar candies are safe for consumption.