Group Offers Halloween Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treaters – NBC Chicago

A well-known safety group reports that Halloween is one of the most dangerous nights of the year for children, but offers tips to help kids have a fun holiday.

Kids in Danger (KID) reports that children are three times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year. Additionally, parents looking for a fun and safe trick-or-treating experience should be concerned about flammable costumes and even lead in Halloween-themed drinking cups.

In fact, the first thing parents should do is make sure costumes and other accessories are clearly visible to drivers before taking their children with them.

“It’s dark. They run around. They’re excited,” said Nancy Cowles, executive director of KID. “Make sure others can see your child by using reflective costumes, reflective tape, glow sticks or flashlights.”

Cowles also warns that children may have difficulty seeing out of full face masks and recommends alternatives that reflect the holiday spirit.

“We recommend face paint or some type of mask decoration or facial decoration that doesn’t obscure their vision,” she said. “These little, tiny holes can make it difficult to see anything other than what’s right in front of you.”

Safety recalls should also be monitored, especially when costumes are purchased used at thrift stores or on Facebook Marketplace. Cowles pointed to a recent recall of a Halloween projector flashlight sold at Target stores due to fire and burn hazards.

Parents are urged to learn about these recalls before letting their little goblins and ghosts have their Halloween fun. For more tips, visit the KID website.