Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog
You may not be going out this Halloween, but if you’re expecting trick-or-treaters to come knocking at your door there are a few simple safety tips you can follow to help prevent child injury in Massachusetts. Many children are injured every year while venturing from house to house in search of little wrapped sweets.
As we recently reported on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, children are four times more likely to suffer from an injury on Halloween night than during any other night of the year.
To help reduce the risks of child injury in Massachusetts, the state offers these safety tips for those who will be handing out candy this Halloween:
-Try using small flashlights or battery-operated candles in your jack-o-lanterns instead of candles. Fires are some of the common cause of injury during Halloween.
-Be sure to remove leaves and cornstalks away from open flames. Keep candles and jack-o-lanterns away from draping curtains and other flammable objects.
-Only use flame-proof crepe paper for decorating.
-Be sure to clear your driveway, sidewalk and front porch of any trip-and-fall hazards. There’s no telling where children will wander. Remove these hazards to help prevent a serious accident.
-Make sure that all the lights on the exterior of your house are on and working. Dimly-light areas are an attraction for injury-related accidents.
-Consider handing out non-candy items to trick-or-treaters, including bubbles, spider rings and toothbrushes.
-Clear your yard of all lawn furniture and other debris.
-Toss out any candy that has been opened or looks like it has been tampered with.
-Do not hand out any kinds of treats that children may choke on, like peanuts or hard candy.
As most parents can attest, nothing is scarier than an injury to a child. Parents are urged to discuss the risks that they’re likely face on Halloween night before heading from door to door in search of yummy treats.
According to Safe Kids USA, here are the top five safety hazards on Halloween:
5.) Eye and burn injuries. Many of these accidents happen from improper costumes, candles and toys. Make sure all toys and props are soft and safe.
4.) Falls. Many of these accidents are caused by running, improper costumes and poor lighting.
3.) Drunk Driving. On Halloween, there are more drunk drivers reported to be on our roadways than during New Year’s.
2.) Crossing the road at non-intersections. Kids should cross only at street corners and should avoid running into the road. Children need to be as visible to motorists as possible.
1.) Pedestrian-car accidents. These accidents are the result of speed, poor visibility and speed.
All residents are urged to be extremely cautious this Halloween to help protect our young ghosts and goblins. With these few safety tips, we can all make it home without any real scares. From our Massachusetts personal injury attorneys, have a Happy Halloween!
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in the Boston area this Halloween, contact Massachusetts Injury Attorney Jeffrey S. Glassman for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 877-617-5333.
More Blog Entries:
March Awareness Month: Boston car accidents and traumatic brain injury, Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, March 16, 2011
Traumatic brain injury often undiagnosed – common causes include Boston car accidents, sporting accidents, fall accidents, Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, October 18, 2010