Halloween

Halloween Hazards You Probably Aren’t Thinking About

Date: October 26, 2017 By Categories: Holidays & Events Tags: , , , , , No comments

It’s fun to take in the thrills and chills of Halloween, but only if the dangers are all pretend. October 31st always brings heavy pedestrian traffic, especially children who are dressed in dark colors and experiencing a full-on sugar rush.  Do your part to reduce the risk of real-life scary stories by being extra vigilant.

HalloweenSafety

1. Discuss road safety with your kids
The excitement of the celebration might distract your kids from what they already know about road safety.  After all, even though your son normally stays in the crosswalk, once he puts on that Superman costume, all bets are off.  A brief review before even leaving the house could help prevent them from taking off running across the road.

2. Help to make sure children stay visible after dark
If your house is on the trick-or-treat route, pass out fun items that help children stand out to motorists, such as reflective arm bands, tape, or glow sticks.  If you’re guiding a group of ghouls around the neighborhood, bring some light-up gear with you.

3. Put your phone away
You can’t foresee every potential accident.  Likewise, you can’t guarantee a moment of safety long enough to check your texts.  Whether walking or driving, keep your eyes on your surroundings and your kids.

4. Beware of…your candy bag
Never accept candy that is not factory-packaged or appears to have been tampered with.  Likewise, be wary of baked goods and other such items from strangers.  Keep an eye out for torn packaging, loose wrappers, or anything in a baggie.

Trick or Treaters Are Here!

Even if you don’t have kids, you can keep others safe by driving more mindfully:

1. Actively look for children on the road.
Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a vehicle on Halloween. Anticipate accidents before they happen by slowing down through neighborhoods and keeping a close eye on pedestrians.

2. Turn your headlights on earlier than normal.
Visibility is important both ways – vehicles need to be visible to pedestrians too. If you have manual headlights, consider turning them on earlier than normal as an extra precaution.

3. Beat the Trick-or-Treat: avoid high-traffic travel times
The most popular time range for trick-or-treating is 5:30-9:30pm.  If possible, avoid driving through neighborhoods during these times.

Nothing is scarier than injury to a loved one, but some small precautions, though basic, can make an incredible difference.  That’s the sweetest treat of all!

 

BEST Transportation, St. Louis County & Yellow Cab, and GO BEST Express comprise a family of companies that is committed to providing above-industry-standard transportation solutions for every need. It’s more than just point “A” to point “B” service. It’s about the experience. 

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Halloween Safety Blog

Halloween Safety

Date: October 1, 2021 By Categories: Holidays & Events Tags: No comments

Halloween

Spooky season is upon us! It’s time for carving pumpkins, picking costumes, and trick-or-treating. However, it’s not always pumpkin spice and everything nice. As we gear up for this hauntingly fun holiday, it’s important to review some safety tips to lift your spirits during this time of year. So sit for a spell and take a look at our tricks and treats for Halloween safety.

Pumpkin Carving Safety

Now this is pumpkin to talk about! Avoid injuries while carving your Jack-o-‘Lanterns by designating an adult to do the carving. The kids can help by scooping out the pumpkin seeds and picking the stencil. Yeah, that might not sound as fun, but neither does a trip to the ER. Let’s remember that adults aren’t invincible either. Use a dull blade when carving. Better yet, consider using a pumpkin carving kit since it’s specifically designed for this activity. If you use a knife that’s too sharp, it could cut through too well and injure your hand on the other side. When it’s time to illuminate your creation, it’s best to use a battery-powered tealight to avoid burns.

Costume SafetyTrick or Treating

Come as you aren’t! Halloween costumes allow kids to be creative and express themselves in such a fun way. When it comes to children’s costumes, make sure they are comfortable, breathable, and flame retardant. Most importantly, make sure the kids are wearing something that can be seen from the road. This could be a glow bracelet/necklace, or a flashlight. Some local organizations have safety events that could provide you with reflective or glowing items. So make sure to keep calm and carry a (glow) wand! If your kid is known to wonder, consider writing your name/number in your children’s costumes in case they get lost and need help.

Trick-or-Treating Safety

Creep it real this Halloween and give your kids clear instructions for trick-or-treating. Make sure your trick-or-treaters look both ways before crossing the street and always walk (not run) to other houses. Stay ahead of the carve and explain that drivers may ignore the crosswalks, so children must stop and check for cars there too. If it’s available, it’s always a gourd idea to use a sidewalk. For those trick-or-treating on their own, make sure they have a route that they will stick with and a designated time to come home/check in.

Vehicle Safety

Streets on Halloween are always busy with all of those tiny trick-or-treaters out and about. On top of that, everyone is walking around in the dark. This is why it’s so important to minimize your distractions if you drive on Halloween night. Put your phone down, don’t put on parts of your costume that might obstruct your view or impact mobility, and make sure you’re taking corners slow. Then there’s the partying and the “boos.” Sure, ghouls just want to have fun, but we urge everyone to NOT drive while under the influence on any day, especially Halloween. If you know you’re going to eat, drink, and be scary, consider taking a taxi instead of getting behind the wheel. Even if you would rather assign a trusted friend to be your DD, carpooling means fewer vehicles on the road, reducing the risk of an accident.

Let’s get this party startled! If you anticipate that you will need a ride this year, download our app to make sure you can easily book a ride.

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