Stay Safe this Halloween by Following These Tips

Halloween is always a fun holiday for children and adults to celebrate. However, if certain safety precautions are not taken, it can also be a very dangerous holiday. The Citrus County Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton want you and your loved ones to stay safe and free from harm this Halloween. The following tips can help you escape any injuries on Halloween:

• Refrain from drinking and driving. Halloween parties are not just for children, so if you are attending a Halloween party this year where you know you will be consuming alcohol, designate a sober driver to get you home safely. You should never get behind the wheel of a car after you have been drinking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one-third of all auto accidents are caused by intoxicated drivers. Remember, even just consuming one or two alcoholic beverages can impair your ability to operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner. The safest option after drinking is to use a designated driver.
• Pay attention to motor vehicle traffic. Some of the biggest dangers on Halloween are traffic accidents and pedestrian injuries mostly due to the fact that lots of people are out on this night. If you are taking your child out trick-or-treating this year, make sure your child is equipped with reflectors or flashlights.
• Do not use candles inside pumpkins. Instead, use battery powered light sources or flameless candles when lighting up your jack-o-lanterns. Candles placed inside pumpkins can result in burn injuries and start fires.
• If dressing up, wear a flame resistant costume. The Consumer Protection Safety Commission recommends avoiding costumes with very long sleeves or fringes because these can easily get caught in flames and result in burn injuries or fires.
• Look through your children’s candy bags before letting them consume any treats. You want to make sure your kids do not eat anything that is unsealed or not in its original packaging.
• Keep Halloween décor out of the path of trick-or-treaters. Should a person slip, trip or fall while on your property due to a hazardous condition, as the property owner, you could be liable for their injuries.
• When trick-or-treating, it is best to only visit the homes of residents you know.

The Citrus County Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton remain dedicated to keeping residents of Inverness, Crystal River, Beverly Hills, Lecanto, Homosassa, Dunnellon, Hernando, Sugarmill Woods, Citrus Springs and Floral City safe this Halloween. If you or someone you love is injured, we can answer your questions and make sure your rights are protected. For a free consultation with us, visit us online or call 352-726-0078.

We want everyone to have a fun and safe Halloween!

Photo credit: roeyahram / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND