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Thanks to a change in Daylight Savings Time, trick-or-treaters will be made safer by an extra hour of evening light this year. A lack of light on Halloween evening isn’t the only danger posed to young ghosts and goblins, however — many injuries each year stem from trips and falls attributed to unsafe costumes. When planning your child’s costume (or your own) this year, keep in mind the following advice, courtesy of Consumer Reports:
- Carefully consider the costume’s flammability and opt for material that won’t easily go up in flames. In other words, if you want to be a mummy, don’t use toilet paper, paper towels or gauze. Other fire hazards include big, baggy sleeves, trailing cloaks and billowing skirts. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends purchasing costumes, beards, masks, and wigs that have the ‘Flame Resistant’ label.
- Make sure the costume is short enough so children won’t trip and fall.
- Don’t overlook the shoes; they should be sturdy and fit well. Mom’s high heels may look great but if they’re wobbly and unsteady — in other words, easy to trip over — consider something more well-grounded.
- Wear light-colored or bright garments to be visible to motorists.
- If a sword, cane, or stick is part of a costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. Better yet: skip the sticks entirely. These accessories can easily cause injuries — including serious eye injuries.
- Use facial make-up, instead of masks, to keep vision unobstructed.
- Decorate or trim the costume — and accessories, including trick-or-treat bags or sacks as well — with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights.
- Make a flashlight part of the costume — to help trick-or-treaters see easily as well as aid them in being seen.
Previously on the DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:
For information about your legal rights, please call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.
Tagged child safety, Halloween 
