Five Ways You Can Make Halloween Safer for Everyone

Allergen Free Candy 

If you’re wondering just what the heck is up with all these kids who are allergic to peanuts, it’s not all in your head: in the past 30 years, the prevalence of peanut allergies amongst children has increased at a significant rate—in fact, it’s almost doubled. For the uninitiated, allergies can prevent kids from enjoying a wide variety of treats. Not only will children be unable to eat candies that contain allergens, but they may also be unable to eat candies that were manufactured in the same facility as candies that contain the allergens. Allergen-free candy has become a solution to the rising number of children with allergies. Dots, Dum Dums, Twizzlers, Airheads, and Swedish Fish, are commonly cited as free from common allergens. If you have a child with allergies, it may be a good idea to go through their candies to ensure they’re not allergic to anything they’ve gotten. 

Glow Sticks 

Passing out glow sticks in lieu of candy may be a fun alternative. Or, if you do not want to buy glow sticks in bulk—can’t blame you here; there’s no eating leftover glow sticks—it may be a good idea to put a few on your child. Children are notoriously unaware of their surroundings. They frequently fail to appreciate dangers and calculate risks. For example, an eight-year-old may fail to consider that s/he can’t be easily seen on a dark road while wearing a dark Halloween costume. Glow sticks can help children remain visible to drivers even when the streetlights are inadequate and their Halloween costumes don’t offer a whole lot of visibility. Lights that blink or flash and can be worn around the neck or wrists may also be a good alternative. 

Lighting 

Make sure that you have good lighting around your house, especially if you live in a dark neighborhood where there are not many streetlights on the street.  If you have children who are trick or treating, you should be aware of the neighborhood they’re trick or treating in. If they’re going with their friends, it might be a good idea to drive through the neighborhood after dark to see how much lighting there is. If the neighborhood is particularly dark, you may need to buy lighting for your children to wear while they’re trick or treating, especially if their costume involves dark clothing or otherwise may not be easy to see in the dark. Children who are too young to anticipate a driver’s actions and consider whether or not the drive is able to see them may not be ready to trick or treat without supervision.

Removing Lawn Hazards 

There should be a clear path between the beginning of your property and your porch. If there are hazards that could cause a person to trip, fall, and sustain injury, you should consider removing those items if possible. Remember, decorations can be considered hazards, especially if someone could conceivably trip over them on the way to the front door. Dogs and other animals may also be considered hazards, especially if you have a dog who has special needs, or is prone to fear and/or aggression. Dogs who require special care should not be allowed to roam freely without supervision, especially on Halloween. Though you may not be participating in the holiday, you should consider keeping your dogs indoors, especially if they are a bite risk to others. Sprinklers and other yard care items may also be considered to be tripping hazards. If someone could feasibly trip on it while on their way to your front door, you should consider removing it before Halloween. 

Consider Attending a Trunk-or-Treat 

A trunk-or-treat may be a safe alternative, especially if you have small children who may not be able to safely trick-or-treat by themselves, or need additional supervision. Many community centers, churches, and libraries host annual trunk-or-treats around the week of Halloween. It may be a good idea to consider attending one of these instead of going trick-or-treating. Trunk-or-treats are especially convenient for those who live in dangerous neighborhoods with high crime rates and high rates of gang activity.  

Stay Safe on Halloween

At Moxie Law Group, we’re wishing everyone a safe and happy Halloween. However, we understand that there are dangers lurking seemingly everywhere. If you’ve sustained injury, and you need an attorney to represent your best interests when working with the insurance companies, Moxie Law Group is here for you. At Moxie Law Group, our focus is helping  those who have sustained injury get the compensation they need in order to recover. Contact Moxie Law Group today to get started on your initial consultation.