NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Halloween is supposed to be scary fun for both kids and parents, but real dangers, like pedestrian accidents can be a scary reality if precautions are not taken.
"Kids under age 12 should not be crossing the streets alone on Halloween," said Cherie Sage with Safe Kids Kansas. "They definitely need to have either an adult or a responsible older teenager with them. Cognitively, developmentally, kids under that age are really not mature enough to be out after hours alone. If you do have older kids or your kids are going out with that older teenager, have that conversation with them. Know what the plan is. What neighborhoods are they going to go to? It's best if those neighborhoods are familiar to them."
If sending kids out with an older teen, they should have a cell phone, but not necessarily use it much, unless there is an emergency.
"It's also really important to remind them that they need to pay attention to their surroundings," Sage said. "This is true especially when they are crossing a street or even just walking down a sidewalk that might have driveways that someone's pulling in and out of."
On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a vehicle and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Once they get home safely, it's also important to have parents take a look in the child's bag before they dig in.
"You should check sweets before kids are allowed to eat them," Sage said. "You should only eat treats that are in original, unopened wrappers, or that come from the home of someone that you know. If you go by your aunt's house and she has those infamous popcorn balls, that's okay, that's someone that you know."
Popular trick or treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., so be especially alert for kids during those hours. Sunset on Halloween is just after 6:30 p.m., so much of that time will be after dark.
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