Halloween is just around the corner and while you are planning your costumes, I have some safety warnings to share from the experts. If you are planning on driving to go trick-or-treating, make sure to consider your child’s costume before you buckle up.

Katie Pelton (copy)

“If your child’s costume has bulky or puffy components to it, it’s really best for you to dress them in their costume once they have arrived at their destination to ensure that all that bulk and puffiness is not underneath their harness,” said Emily Thomas, manager of auto safety at Consumer Reports. “The reason this is important is that extra bulkiness and puffiness can add slack into the harness, and so it creates additional room that in a crash would get compressed. That additional room means there’s more ability for the child to move during the crash and potentially move outside the protection of their car seat.”

Consumer Reports suggests you have your child put their costume on once you arrive to your destination.

“Keep them in another outfit or something light that they would wear underneath their costume anyways. That way when they get to their destination they can get dressed up and have fun, and on the way there they can be safe and well-harnessed,” Thomas said.

I also wanted to talk about pedestrian safety as a lot of parents and grandparents get ready to take children trick-or-treating.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is sharing some pedestrian safety tips ahead of Halloween.

“Parents often worry about tainted candy on Halloween, but cars and traffic are really the bigger concern,” said Dr. Sadiqa Kendi in an AAP news release. “Let’s keep the scares to a minimum and enjoy this Halloween.”

Here are some safety steps:

First, only go to homes with a porch light on. Make sure shoes and costumes fit properly to keep kids from tripping. Use reflective tape for costumes and treat bags. Stay on well-lighted streets and always use the sidewalk and crosswalks. Don’t assume you have the right of way because drivers may have trouble seeing you. For older kids going out with friends, the AAP suggests agreeing on a time when they should return home and have them carry a flashlight.

“For those handing out treats at home, don’t forget to keep pathways to your door well-lit and free of any obstacles like bicycles or garden hoses that might block the path of visiting goblins, witches and ghosts,” the AAP said in a news release. “Drivers should be extra careful on the roads that day, especially between 5:30-9:30 p.m., when trick-or-treaters are most likely to be out.”

You can find more information at AAP.org. Happy Halloween!

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Also, I wanted to let you know The Justice Center is holding Legal Resource Day on Friday. It takes place 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the El Paso County Courthouse. You can attend free sessions and learn about legal topics, like evictions, guardianship, estates and more. You can find more information at justicecentercos.org.

Look for clues and hidden treats along the way at the Halloween Scavenger Hunt

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