What you should do to keep you and your little ones safe on the street this Halloween
So you’ve spent your share of the estimated $9 billion Americans plan to shell out celebrating Halloween this year.
You’ve carved your $4 pumpkin. Picked out your costume like almost half of the country. Put a witch hat on your pooch like 18 percent of pet owners.
Your kids are dressed up like princesses and superheroes, pleading with you to “Hurry up!” and get out of the door. “Mom and Dad,” they’ll surely say, “We NEED to snatch up loads of candy!”
But did you think about what you should do to keep you and your little ones safe this Halloween?
Authorities say before you hit the streets to trick-or-treat Wednesday, you should follow some basic rules to scare away the chance of having a bad night.
“The main thing is you want to have fun, but be safe,” Wichita police Officer Charley Davidson said.
“Obviously kids are going to be excited. They may dart into the street. So be cautious.”
According to WalletHub, an estimated 41 million children ages 5 to 14 will be trick-or-treating across the United States this year, and about 120 millions homes will hand out candy.
The increase in foot traffic on streets and sidewalks means a higher chance of pedestrian-traffic collisions. Children are twice as likely to be hit by a car while walking and killed on Halloween than on an average day, according to the National Safety Council.
Around 40 percent of Halloween-night traffic deaths involve drunken driving.
Davidson suggested these tips to keep help keep everyone protected while they’re out on Wichita streets enjoying Halloween festivities:
Trick-or-treat with a parent or in a group and stick to familiar areas
Cross the street at corners instead dashing between parked or slow-moving cars or crossing mid-block
Carry a flashlight or glow stick or attach reflective tape on costumes so you can be seen in the dark
Use makeup to decorate your face instead of a mask so you can clearly see vehicles and other hazards
Walk on sidewalks if they’re available. If they aren’t, walk on the side of the road facing traffic so cars can see you
Drivers, be aware of your surroundings and watch for pedestrians
Carry a cellphone so if you do see something out of the ordinary or suspicious, you can call 911
Wichita police aren’t planning to close any roads Wednesday to accommodate trick-or-treaters, Davidson said. But there may be some neighborhoods that have permission to barricade or block off portions of their streets.
Davidson also urged trick-or-treaters to be on the look out for Wichita police officers. Several will be participating in the department’s “Boo Program,” where they’ll hand out candy and greet kids and families they see on the streets on Halloween night.
Other law enforcement officers, including Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office deputies, will be out enforcing seat belt and child safety seat laws, so make sure you buckle up.
“Just be aware of your surroundings when you’re out trick-or-treating,” Davidson said. Parents are “going to be the best person to look after your own children and their friends.”
Fun Halloween facts:
- 69 percent of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween
- About 48 percent will dress up, spending about $3.2 billion on costumes
- 18 percent will put costumes on their pets. The most popular? Pumpkins, hot dogs, bumblebees and devils
- 30 percent of Americans will take their child trick-or-treating. Just over a third will talk to them about Halloween safety
- 3.8 million kids will dress as their favorite princess character. Around 2.5 million will be their favorite superhero
- Americans will spend $2.6 billion on Halloween candy
- Around 83 percent of parents check their children’s candy for dangerous items before letting them eat it
- 72 percent admit to secretly stealing their child’s Halloween goodies!
- The favorite Halloween treat? Chocolate, say 68 percent of Americans
- Average retail price of a pumpkin: $4.39
- Total estimated Halloween-related spending: $9 billion. The average household will spend about $87
Source: WalletHub