**The products for this review and giveaway were provided by SafeKids and FedEx, however all opinions are my own.
Kids love trick-or-treating on Halloween, including mine! Although it's a fun time, the day does pose some real scary risks, with twice as many children likely to be killed by vehicles on Halloween night than any other night throughout the year! That was quite startling for me to read, but serves as a good reminder to myself and other parents about ways we can help keep our kids safe when trick-or-treating!
I was happy to learn that FedEx and Safe Kids have teamed up once again to keep kids safe on Halloween, by educating children and their parents about safe behaviors. They have shared research that sheds light on the issue and also give out safe "gear" to kids to help them be seen at night.
When I learned that only a third of parents talk to their children every year about Halloween safety, i wanted to be sure and share the following safety tips from Safe Kids and FedEx to ensure that everyone has a fun, safe night on Halloween!
Top safety tips Safe Kids and FedEx recommend for parents:
- Cross the street safely at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross. Walk, don't run, across the street.
- Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
- Slow down and stay alert - watch out for cars that are turning or backing up and never dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars.
- Costumes can be both creative and safe. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Masks can obstruct a child's vision, so choose non-toxic face paint and make-up whenever possible instead. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights in order to see better, as well as be seen by drivers.
Top safety tips Safe kids and FedEx recommend for drivers:
- Slow down in residential neighborhoods. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 to 9:30pm.
- Be especially alert and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
- Reduce any distractions inside your car, such as talking on the phone or eating, so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
A little bit more about Safe Kids Walk This Way...
In 1999, SafeKids Worldwide and FedEx created the Safe Kids Walk This Way program in the US to teach safe behaviors to motorists and child pedestrians and create safer, more walkable communities through education, awareness, research and actual physical improvements to the spaces where children are most at risk.
As part of the FedEx commitment to learning about the issues that impact road safety, advancing safe driving practices and improving safety conditions in the communities in which FedEx operates, the Walk This Way program has made significant progress in accelerating child safety, particularly among young children. Over the past 13 years, the Walk This Way program has expanded to include Brazil, Canada, China, India, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines where it has educated more than 4 million children.
For more tips on how to help kids become safer pedestrians on Halloween, as well as throughout the year, visit SafeKids.org and visit their Facebook page.
As part of this initiative, Safe Kids and FedEx are providing kids with reflective materials to promote visibility as well as important safety information for children, parents and drivers.
Win It: Safe Kids and FedEx would like to offer TWO A Mom's Balancing Act readers safe "Trick-or-Treating" bags which will have some cool tools to help kids be seen (flashlight, reflective tags, stickers for kids to add to their costumes and a safety tip sheet). The bags themsevles are reflective and perfect for collecting goodies too! This is a very short giveaway, so be sure to get entered right away!
This giveaway is open to US Only and will end October 27th.
I was NOT aware that.........."On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year." =( ~mia dentice carey
The most helpful was the Costumes can be both creative and safe.
I think that this is my favorite
Slow down in residential neighborhoods. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 to 9:30pm.
Sadly so many people in my area try to do it later than that!
Both of my children's costumes are black (skeleton & cheetah). This post reminded me to pick up some glow sticks so they don't blend into the dark.
Carry glowsticks or flashlights
slow down when driving- it makes me so mad to see people speeding on Halloween.
Instead of masks use face paint so you. Don't obstruct vision
I am glad I read this tip I tell the kids not to run watch for cars but I will state WATCH FOR BCAKING CARS this year also...Slow down and stay alert - watch out for cars that are turning or backing up and never dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars.
I like the walk on sidewalk
lmurley2000@yahoo.com
Kids love this festival and wear very weird costumes.