Halloween safety strongly encouraged

Halloween is supposed to be a spooky night, but parents don't have to be scared about their kids' safety if they follow some simple safety tips, according to a statement from the Safe Kids Kansas organization.

With Halloween being one of the most dangerous days of the year for child pedestrians -- children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than the rest of the year -- it is essential for parents to prepare their children properly to stay safe while trick-or-treating.

With the days getting shorter, children are likely to be trick-or-treating in the dark when it is harder for drivers to see them, and the excitement of the holiday can make everyone less cautious. To keep kids safe, parents should remind them about walking safely and ensure that they will be seen by drivers this Halloween, an agency statement said.

"Parents need to remind kids about safety while walking before they go out trick-or-treating," Safe Kids Kansas Coordinator Jan Stegelman said. "Children should also bring flashlights or glow sticks with them, carry reflective bags or have reflective tape on their costumes and not wear masks which may inhibit their ability to see hazards. Making sure that all kids are seen this Halloween is essential to keep this holiday fun for everyone."

As part of the Walk This Way program, local Safe Kids Coalitions and sponsor FedEx will be distributing reflective stickers and trick-or-treat bags to children across the state, as well as providing important safety information to parents and caregivers at community events.

Safe Kids recommends that children under 10 years of age should not trick-or-treat without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to go trick-or-treating without supervision, make sure they stick to a predetermined route with good lighting. Parents must also remind kids to observe the following safety tips:

• Cross streets safely. Cross at a corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Try to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them. Don't assume that because the child can be seen by the driver, that the driver can see the child. The child should look left, right and left again when crossing, and keep looking as they cross. Kids should walk, and not run across the street.

• Walk on well-lit sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk in familiar areas with minimal street crossings.

• Be a safe pedestrian around cars. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Drivers need to do their part to keep trick-or-treaters safe from harm. Safe Kids also reminds motorists to be extra careful this Halloween and recommends that drivers follow these safety tips:

• Be especially alert. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are during the typical rush-hour period between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m.

• Drive more slowly. Slow down and anticipate heavier than usual pedestrian traffic.

• Keep headlights on. Be sure to drive with full headlights on so children can be spotted from greater distances.

Although pedestrian safety is a main concern on Halloween, parents also need to keep in mind that there are other hazards for their children during the holiday. Parents must check treats or signs of tampering before children are allowed to eat them. To prevent costume fires, keep jack-o'-lanterns that are lit with candles away from doorsteps and walkways, and consider using glow sticks instead of candles.

Finally, Safe Kids Kansas also suggests that parents look for non-flammable costumes and non-toxic designations when choosing Halloween makeup.

For more tips on how to keep kids safe while walking on Halloween and throughout the year, visit the Safe Kids organization on the Internet at www.usa.safekids.org/wtw/.

The Safe Kids Walk This Way program was created by Safe Kids Worldwide and FedEx in the United States in 1999 to bring awareness to children pedestrian safety issues. Safe Kids Kansas, Inc., is a non-profit coalition of 67 statewide organizations and businesses dedicated to preventing accidental injuries to Kansas children. Safe Kids Kansas was founded in 1991 and is led by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. For more information, visit www.kansassafekids.org.