Safety tips for children, teens, parents
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Teachers’ Insurance Plan in Meriden, Conn., released the following tips to help keep children safe as they go trick-or-treating on Halloween.
“With excited kids frantically going from neighbor to neighbor, drivers need to be particularly cautious,” said Ray Palermo, director of public information for TIP. “However, following some simple advice, parents, children, drivers and homeowners can all have a safe, enjoyable time.”
- Drivers need to be especially watchful when children are out at dusk and at night. Take care when driving over a hill or around a curve, where visibility is limited.
- Drivers need to watch for children darting out into the streets between parked cars, as well as at corners where they may not be paying enough attention to cross safely.
- Trick-or-treaters should always be accompanied by an adult or travel in a group.
- Tell children not to eat any unwrapped candy or treats until they return home, where their parents can check the treats. Making sure children have eaten before heading out can help keep them from eating candy as they go from house to house.
- Parents may want to limit their children’s activities to local events run by schools, police stations, fire stations, senior citizens’ centers, local business, and other similar entities.
- Add reflective tape to costumes to increase visibility.
- Have children wear makeup rather than masks, to give them an unobstructed view of their surroundings.
- Always cross streets at corners and look both ways before crossing.
- Children should stay on the sidewalk. If none is available, walk facing the lane of traffic.
- Carry a flashlight to help children see and be seen.
- Homeowners should clear their yards of anything that might trip children. Have a front light or walkway light on, and do not use decorations with an open flame that could ignite a child’s costume.
More information may be seen at www.teachers.com/safety.
Safety for teens
The Kansas Highway Patrol has issued a reminder that it’s not just trick-or-treaters who need to take care on Friday. Teen drivers need to stay safe on Halloween, and every other day of the year.
KHP Superintendent Col. Terry Maple released some statistics about teen driving.
Maple said that:
- Kansas teens are involved in 16,000 motor vehicle crashes annually.
- Inexperience, late-night driving, and multiple passengers increase teens’ odds of being in a collision.
- A 16-year-old Kansas driver is five times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than a 20-year-old driver.
- Alcohol is frequently a contributing factor on Halloween.