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Don't Let Halloween be Scary for Children; New Auto Club Safety Tip Cards Distributed

(LOS ANGELES, Oct. 25, 2011) – Even though Halloween is one of the most festive nights of the year for children, it also ranks among the most dangerous for young pedestrians.  A study by the Center for Disease Control estimates that children are four times more likely to be struck by a motor vehicle on Halloween than any other day of the year.
 
To help spread awareness of Halloween’s traffic risk for children, the Auto Club distributed more than 100,000 Halloween safety tip cards to 125 schools throughout Southern California.  New orange and white Halloween safety tip cards, which are laminated and written in English on and Spanish, also double as bookmarks for young children. Among the tips are recommendations about costumes, visibility and planning a safe route for trick-or-treating.
 
“Visibility and mobility are the most important factors of a safe Halloween costume,” says Anita Lorz, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s manager of community programs and traffic safety.  “Caregivers should plan ahead to build safety into Halloween costumes and closely supervise children under age 12 on roads and possibly in traffic.”
 
Trick-or-treaters often focus on the excitement of Halloween and forget about safety.  By following these simple “safety tricks,” caregivers can ensure their safety isn’t “haunted” by unnecessary injuries:
 
Visibility
  • Choose costumes and accessories that are light, bright and reflective to be clearly visible.
  • Add retro-reflective tape to costumes and goody bags.
  • Hats, scarves and masks should not obstruct the child’s vision or breathing
  • Masks created with non-toxic makeup allow for the best visibility.
  • To easily see and be seen, children should also carry flashlights.
 
Mobility
  • Costumes should be short enough to prevent children from tripping and falling.
  • Costumes should be loose enough to wear an extra layer underneath, but try to avoid excess fabric that can snag on obstacles.
  • Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be of soft and flexible material.
  • Comfortable shoes that fit well will make the journey safe and enjoyable.
  • Look for the Flame Resistant label on costumes, fabric and accessories. To minimize the risk of contact with candles or other sources of ignition, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.
 
Plan the Walk
  • A responsible adult should always accompany and supervise young children under age 12 on their neighborhood rounds.
  • If older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable and agree on a specific time when they should return home.
  • Review pedestrian and traffic safety rules with your walkers.
 
Trick-or-Treaters
  • Walk, slither and sneak on sidewalks, not in the street.
  • If no sidewalk is available, walk on the side of the road facing traffic, so you can be seen by on-coming vehicles.
  • Stop at all of the corners and look all ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks, and low-flying brooms.
  • Stay in a group.  Never trick-or-treat alone.
  • Only go to homes with a porch light on.
  • Never enter a stranger’s car or house for a treat.
  • Don’t hide or cross between parked cars.
 
 
 
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CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Automobile Club of Southern California. All Rights Reserved.
The Automobile Club of Southern California is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the following California counties: Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.