I took the girls to Boo at the Zoo on Sunday night, as I have for the past 3 years. It’s become kind of a tradition. Though we’ll still go out on Halloween night for an hour or two, what I like about Boo at the Zoo is that it’s a safe and worry-free trick-or-treating experience. One of the sponsors giving out treats at the zoo was FedEx.
With Halloween right around the corner, FedEx is working with Safe Kids USA and child pedestrian expert Moira Donahue, to encourage parents to keep their little ones safe when out trick-or-treating.
To ensure kids stay safe on Halloween, Safe Kids recommends that children:
- always trick-or-treat with an adult until age 10
- only trick-or-treat in familiar areas that are well lit
- cross streets at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks
- look left, right and left again when crossing; always walk, don’t run, when crossing streets
- make eye contact with drivers and watch for cars that are turning or backing up
- walk on sidewalks or paths; if there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible
- never dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars
- wear light-colored, flame-retardant, costumes decorated with retro-reflective tape or stickers
- wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes to prevent trips and falls
- carry a flashlight or glow stick to increase visibility to drivers
- wear face paint and makeup; a mask can restrict a child’s vision
Drivers need to do their part to keep trick-or-treaters safe from harm. FedEx reminds motorists to be extra careful this Halloween and recommends that drivers:
- be especially alert in residential neighborhoods
- drive more slowly and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic on and near the road
- be sure to drive with your full headlights on so you can spot children from greater distances
- take extra time to actively look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs
- remember that costumes can limit children’s visibility and they may not be able to see your vehicle
- enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully
- remember that children are excited on this night and may move in unpredictable ways
- remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are during the typical rush-hour period, between 5:30-9:30 p.m.
- reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and pedestrians
FedEx also teamed up with Mom Central to survey moms on their thoughts on Halloween safety, here are some of the findings:
- 46% of parents require their children to carry/wear something reflective when trick-or-treating; 26% of moms require their kids to trick-or-treat with a reflective bag.
- 85% of moms require their children be accompanied by a parent when trick-or-treating.
- 87% of moms believe the risk of being struck by a car on Halloween is consistently high no matter the time of day.
Visit Safe Kids USA for even more tips and have a happy (and safe) Halloween!
