There is candy on the shelves, pumpkins on doorsteps and leaves on the ground which can only mean Halloween is just around the corner. As families plan for costume parties and trick-or-treating, Priority Ambulance offers safety tips to ensure everyone enjoys a safe and happy Halloween.

Halloween is the second-most-popular family holiday with an estimated 172 million children participating in trick-or-treating in 2019. With the COVID-19 pandemic interrupting many plans last year, the CDC has issued the green light on Halloween celebration with appropriate safety precautions, and this year promises to be a busy holiday for families. The CDC recommends the following precautions:Celebrate outdoors– particularly for unvaccinated adults and children under the age of 11. Even for vaccinated individuals, the CDC recommends avoiding large group celebrations and social distancing when in large public settings.

  • Wear well-fitting masks over your nose and mouth if you are in public settings and when you approach a house for trick-or-treating. Consider creatively incorporating a mask into your costume.
  • Wash your hands or use sanitizer regularly. Add hand sanitizer and a basic first aid kit to your trick-or-treating plans.

Ambulance services and hospital emergency departments historically observe an increase in injuries on the Halloween holiday, particularly among children. An insurance study revealed that over a recent 10-year period, the average number of fatalities of pedestrians under the age of 18 more than doubled on Halloween to 5.5 compared to 2.6 child deaths on other days of the year. The majority of the accidents didn’t occur at an intersection or crosswalk, and 55 percent of the victims were ages five to 15.

“Halloween is something children look forward to all year, especially after missing it in 2020,” said Dennis Rowe, director for Priority Ambulance. “But it’s also a holiday where they can be susceptible to injury and illness. We want everyone to have fun and be safe, so we encourage parents to think about safety as they plan their Halloween celebrations for your family this Halloween.”

 

Priority Ambulance offers these safety guidelines:

  • An adult should always accompany trick-or-treaters on their candy rounds.
  • Check the label of children’s costumes to ensure the fabric is flame-resistant.
  • Costumes should be brightly colored so as to be easily seen. If not, add reflective tape to the front and back of the costume.
  • Use a flashlight. Your child will both be able to see and be seen by others.
  • Remove any mask or headwear item that could limit eyesight before crossing a street or driveway.
  • Stay in a group.
  • Stay in well-lit areas and only approach homes with a porch light on.
  • Use the sidewalk, if available, and cross the street as a group in established crosswalks or intersections.
  • Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters, especially at dusk and after dark.
  • Never cut across yards or use alleys.
  • Homeowners preparing for trick-or-treaters should make sure the front porch and pathway are clear of hazards, such as fallen leaves, flowerpots and hoses.

About Priority Ambulance

Priority Ambulance is a dynamic, rapidly growing health care company with current medical transportation operations in 14 states and has been listed for four consecutive years on the Inc. Magazine’s list of the 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America. Priority Ambulance’s EMTs, paramedics, nurses and support teams deliver exceptional patient care and customer service to more than 600,000 patients each year. Throughout its national service area, approximately 4,100 highly trained paramedics and EMTs staff a fleet of more than 825 state-of-the-art ambulances and support vehicles. For more information on the Priority Ambulance family of companies, visit www.priorityambulance.com.