Lynchburg comes to life during Halloween! With countless trunk-or-treats happening throughout the city, as well as figuring out which neighborhoods are the most generous with their candy handouts, parents have a lot of options when it comes to their kids’ trick-or-treating activities.
But one thing is the most important: Keeping your kids safe during Halloween. Here, we’ve outlined safety tips for you and your children, as well as for those of you who are simply navigating the streets during Halloween.
Walking Safety Tips for Halloween
Before your kids hit the streets for trick-or-treating, remind them of these important rules:
- Cross the street at corners, using signals and crosswalks.
- Look left, right and left again when crossing the street, and remain looking as you cross
- Don’t look at your phone or any other device while crossing the street or walking along the sidewalk.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
- Always walk on sidewalks or paths.
Additionally, if children are less than 12 years of age, they should not be alone trick-or-treating without adult supervision. If a child is mature enough to be out without supervision, they should still stick to familiar areas that are well lit.
Costume Safety Tips for Halloween
Costumes are the best part of Halloween (Or is it the candy?). Nevertheless, it’s important to remember a few basic rules when helping your child pick out or make their Halloween costume:
- Make sure the bags and costume both have reflective tape or stickers to make them more visible in the dark.
- Opt for face paint and makeup over masks, which obstruct a child’s vision (plus, it’s cheaper!)
- Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen.
- Make sure it’s the right size, or at least the right length, to avoid any trips or falls.
Driving Safety for Halloween
Whether you have a child that you’re taking out for Halloween, or you’re simply on the roads on Halloween night, extra caution on the roads is needed. Follow these rules when driving on Halloween:
- Slow down and be especially alert in residential areas.
- Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly.
- Don’t check your phone or adjust your radio while driving to avoid any distractions.
Popular trick-or-treating hours are from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., so use extra caution during these peak times.
Have Fun
Have tons of fun this Halloween, but make sure you stay safe and smart. Also watch out for the extra sugars you and your children will be ingesting over the week of Halloween. Try to moderate your sugar intake as much as possible.