Kids Hit By Cars on Halloween

Safe Kids USA, a national organization that promotes child safety, is raising awareness of a Halloween safety issue. According to their spokeswoman, this upcoming holiday is the most dangerous day of the year for children walking outside. Several issues put these kids at risk:

• Dark colored costumes
• Masks that make it more difficult for children to see traffic
• Walking after dark, sometimes without parental supervision
• Modern suburbs without sidewalks
• Children are more likely to dart out from between cars

More than 540 children are struck and killed by cars each year. The likelihood of this happening on Halloween eve is more than twice as high as any other evening of the year!

I reviewed our Pediatric Trauma Center statistics, and we have not seen the same increase as reported nationally. Since we are located in a mid-sized city, cars move more slowly and nearly all neighborhoods have sidewalks for pedestrian traffic. This combination makes city trick or treating a little more safe.

How can you protect your children on Halloween?

• Accompany your child. You can be their eyes and ears to help keep them safe.
• Carry a flashlight.
• Have your children wear reflective clothing
• Never jaywalk! Nearly 8 of 10 pedestrian deaths take place in the middle of the block, away from marked crosswalks.

Sources: Safe Kids USA, Regions Hospital Pediatric Trauma Registry