October is here, and that means that across the Boston area and the rest of the United States, kids and parents alike are busy working on their costumes and their social plans for Halloween night. Trick or treating and Halloween parties are fun traditions for Americans of all ages, providing kids with the opportunity to step away from the screens and enjoy face to face time with friends.
Halloween is fun, but like with all other types of outdoor fun, there are ways participants can be injured.
The greatest risk that trick or treaters and their parents face is the darkness – at night, it can be difficult or impossible to see potholes, broken steps, and other hazards on unfamiliar properties.
These hazards can lead to injuries like broken bones, scars, cuts, and bruises. Sometimes, accidents lead to more serious injuries that require extensive medical care.
You can minimize your risk and your child’s risk of being injured while out trick or treating by following these Halloween safety tips.
If you are Taking your Child Out Trick or Treating
Accompany young children to every door. Older children and adolescents will likely want to trick or treat without parental supervision.
If you trust your older child to go out with friends, rather than with you, be sure he or she has a charged cell phone in case of emergencies and checks in with you at agreed-upon intervals. Do not allow a child to trick or treat alone.
Carry a flashlight or be sure that your child, if he or she is trick or treating without you, has one in his or her bag to light the path once the sun goes down. Always stick to the sidewalk.
Only go, or allow your child to go to, homes that are well-lit and have a clear path to the front door. If a house is dark or has a yard that appears to be overgrown, pass this house over and move on to the next house.
If there is a dog tied or fenced in a front yard, avoid that house as well. Even the friendliest dogs can bite children if they feel threatened.
Take the following precautions with your child’s costume to minimize his or her risk of being injured on Halloween:
- Only purchase costumes labeled “flame retardant;”
- Write or sew your child’s name and your phone number into his or her costume;
- Test makeup on small areas of skin before applying it to the face. Your child could have an allergic reaction to the makeup;
- Do not send your child out with a realistic-looking weapon. If his or her costume involves a weapon or other pointed object, be sure this object is soft, flexible, and poses no risk of harming your child or another individual;
- Be sure that all masks fit properly and do not limit your child’s vision in any way;
- Add reflective tape to your child’s costume to make him or her more visible to drivers at night. An alternative to this is giving your child a reflective pendant to wear around his or her neck; and
- If a costume is so long that it drags on the ground, cut or hem the bottom to reduce your child’s risk of tripping on it.
Do not allow your child to eat any candy until you have gotten home and checked it thoroughly. If any candy has a torn wrapper, throw it away. Do not eat homemade treats – stick to commercially-produced candy only.
If you are Expecting Trick or Treaters
If you plan to stay home and hand out candy on Halloween, make your property as safe as possible for your visitors. This means repairing any potholes or broken steps in your front yard ahead of time.
If you cannot do this in time, clearly mark any safety hazards on your property so guests know to avoid them. Be sure that the path from the sidewalk to your front door is well-lit with electrical lighting, not candles or other flames. Keep all dogs indoors.
If you are Hosting a Halloween Party
Provide treats that all of your guests can enjoy and label them appropriately. Peanut allergies are more prevalent in children than they were in the past. Provide peanut-free candies so these children can enjoy Halloween alongside their friends.
If your Halloween party involves pumpkin decoration, give children non-toxic paints to use on their pumpkins. Do not give children knives to use – if you do include pumpkin carving as part of your festivities, knives should be handled by adults only.
Injury Attorneys in Boston, Massachusetts
Do not allow your fear of your child being injured on Halloween to keep him or her from going out to enjoy the holiday this year. By following the safety tips listed above, you can dramatically reduce your child’s risk of being injured while out trick or treating.
However, you cannot completely eliminate this risk. If your child is injured on Halloween or any other day of the year, seek medical attention for him or her as soon as possible.
Get a proper diagnosis and treatment before taking any action against the party responsible for the injury.
Once he or she has received treatment, contact our team of experienced Boston injury attorneys at Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers for your free legal consultation. Be sure to do this in a timely manner after your child receives treatment.
Get a Free Case Evaluation
In Massachusetts, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident. For minors, the statute of limitations does not begin until the victim’s eighteenth birthday, effectively giving your child until he or she turns 21 to seek monetary compensation for a childhood Halloween injury.
However, your financial needs immediately following your child’s injury will likely necessitate that you file a claim much sooner.
The injury attorneys at our firm can advise you about your personal injury claim and help you pursue monetary compensation for your child.
