October Fun and Halloween Safety Tips

As October comes to an end, I hope you and your family enjoyed a fall festival or that you visited a pumpkin patch. I bet your little ghouls and goblins are looking forward to some Halloween fun and a night of trick-or-treating.

Halloween should be a fun and light-spirited night where you visit with your neighbors and enjoy a few too many sweet treats.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for a few unlucky parents and children each year who are seriously injured or killed on Halloween. Unsupervised and excited children running the streets at night can lead to disaster in the blink of an eye—but with some easy-to-follow safety planning and practices, you and your little ones can enjoy every monstrous moment and devilish delight.

1. Plan and Supervise Costume Choices. When selecting costumes for your children, make sure they are comfortable and easy to move in. Avoid costumes that make it difficult for your child to see or move easily.  Choose bright, reflective material when possible.
2. Check Costume Accessories. Make sure the costume is age appropriate. This is especially important with little ones who can choke on small accessories or hurt themselves with a hard plastic sword or wand. 
3. Inspect all Halloween treats and candies. The parent and grandparent ‘Tax,’ as my kids called it, is in place for a good reason. You simply don’t know most of the people passing out treats.  Examining the candy before your child consumes it is a responsible move—and if a couple of Snickers are the price to pay for safe candy consumption, your kids can live with it.  Discard any candy with damaged packaging or those that appear homemade and unwrapped.
4. Supervise Trick-or-Treating and Stay with a Group. Go with your child while they trick-or-treat. Stick to well-lit neighborhoods and ensure they know the importance of staying on sidewalks and using crosswalks. When possible, go with a group of friends or family members.
5. Think Pumpkin Safety.  Consider using glow sticks or LED candles instead of traditional candles in your jack-o-lantern to avoid catching fire to a superhero’s cape or a princess’s flowing dress.
6. Accessories your Ghouls and Goblins with brightly colored snap and glow bracelets and necklaces. The kids love them, and the bright bands will help them stay visible to cars and passers-by.
7. Don’t Let Kids Eat Candy While Walking: Have them wait until they get home and you’ve had a chance to inspect the treats.

Halloween is meant to be a night of fun, but if you want the good times to continue, safety must come first. Follow these safety tips so that everyone can enjoy a safe and happy Halloween!

If you or a loved one ever needs assistance with a personal injury matter, please call me at 703-761-4343 (Virginia) or 301-949-1515 (Maryland). I’m here to help in every way I can

Until next time, please be safe, and NEVER text while driving!

Paul Samakow

Attorney Paul Samakow

703-761-4343 or 301-949-1515.