Stories of Halloween hazards are usually concerned with some sort of spiked candy but it turns out that though the possibility of contaminated treats should not be ignored, the incidents of finding such candy is extremely rare. A more realistic hazard to children on Halloween is the increased chance of them getting hit by a car. According to a 1997 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study an average of one child died per night from 1975-1996 however, during these 21 years, four children died between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Halloween. This dramatic fourfold increase in children’s Halloween deaths is alarming.
A recent posting on Myhealth.ucsd.edu offers some explanations and recommendations to curtail the high death rate of children on Halloween.The increased death rates on Halloween can mainly be attributed to cars hitting children. Special circumstances include:
Some suggestions to ensure the safety of your children:
It is also important to exercise safety precautions as an adult, especially if you will be driving on Halloween or accepting Trick-or-Treaters. If at all possible avoid driving at night on Halloween but if you must, make sure to use extreme caution as children are less visible and can jump out into the road at any moment. Take extra caution in backing out of driveways as small children may not be taller than the back of your car and can go completely unseen.
Home owners are responsible for the safety of anyone who comes to their home. Recommendations posted on a PRWeb.com article increase the safety of your home for trick-or-treaters include:
Following sensible precautions will enhance enjoyment of Halloween, not inhibit it.
Previously posted on the DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog:
For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at (202) 463-3030.