Need 2 Know: Halloween Safety

DAYTON, OH (WDTN) - You may not realize it, but Halloween has the highest rate of child-related pedestrian injuries. In fact, according to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are four times more likely to suffer a pedestrian-related fatality on Halloween than any other night of the year. Here's what you need to know to keep your kids safe.

Kids in costume will be taking over area streets for some serious trick or treating. But, with a dramatic increase in injury for one night of ghoulish fun, you need to put safety first. "Kids are walking along the streets and more importantly, they are in costumes that make it difficult to see or walk, so that combination of streets and sidewalks can sometimes be deadly." says Jessica Saunders, Injury Prevention Specialist for Children's Medical Center.

Make sure your child's costume isn't too long, have them wear comfortable well fitting shoes, and face painting over masks is always a good idea. "Those are the two big things, you want your child to be able to see and be able to walk. Falls and scrapes and broken arms you know we see some of that." But the biggest concern is drivers. Saunders suggests walking on sidewalks or the far edge of the road facing traffic, and make sure your child has on something relflective.

The thing for drivers to remember is kids are really excited. They're not paying attention to crosswalks they might cross when you don't expect them to cross. And when lighting up your jack-o-lanterns, use a glow stick instead of a candle.