My family and I are arguably the biggest Halloween fans in Cleveland! From our annual gathering to my Misny costume contest, I think that Halloween is a great time of year to celebrate friendships, family and festive fall fun. However from a professional standpoint, I have a very different perspective when it comes to the Halloween. Halloween is not fun for victims of careless, preventable accidents. In fact it can be tragic. Let’s keep it safe out there this weekend!
Misny’s List of Halloween Safety Musts
It is easy to become distracted when caught up in the moment, but carelessness can lead to tragedy.
- Always take care to plan your trick or treat route on safe, well-lit streets
- Use proper cross walks and be diligent in checking before crossing the street
- Watch for parked cars or cars backing out of drive ways
- Enlist family and friends to keep a close eye on little ones
- Make sure masks and face decorations allow for clear eyesight
- Use a flashlight
- Use glow rings, lights and other bright identifiers – It becomes dark earlier this time of year
- Have an emergency plan – A designated meeting point
- Keep a watchful eye for loose candy and other un-wrapped treats
- Keep electronic devices, ear buds and other distractions away
- Report any reckless driving or behavior to authorities
For drivers, Halloween can present a unique set of challenges. The abundance of pedestrians on the roads, coupled with darkness and holiday excitement can make for dangerous driving conditions.
- Drive slowly and cautiously – use headlights and turn signals
- Plan for extra driving time for safe traveling
- Be incredibly cautious when backing up
- Pay extra attention between parked cars and crossings
- Avoid distractions at all costs! No food, phones, costume tinkering, etc.
- Plan for a designated driver if you plan to consume alcohol
- Report any reckless behavior or drivers to police
- Avoid taking pets along for the ride – They increase distraction
Accidents and other tragedies can happen any day of the year, but more so with the chaos of Halloween. The Ohio Department of Transportation reports that on Halloween night in 2012 over 50% of accident fatalities resulted from someone driving under the influence. Keep yourselves and your families safe on the roads and on the streets. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and we can all enjoy the fun and festivities safely this weekend!
