A Safe Halloween is a Happy Halloween

Help Keep Children Safe As They Trick-or-Treat

October 23, 2018 



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ILLINOIS/WISCONSIN — With Halloween coming up on Wednesday, October 31, it’s important to remember that more kids will be walking and riding around as they celebrate with family and friends.
It also means an increase in young trick-or-treaters potentially darting across roadways or wandering in front of alleys and driveways.

The Postal Service is asking moms, dads and school officials to remind children about taking extra precautions to avoid potential accidents around mailboxes and postal vehicles. 

“We’ve informed our employees about working on Halloween, and the days leading up to it, including safety concerns, especially when it comes to road and pedestrian safety,” said postal Spokesperson Sean Hargadon. “That’s why we are now asking everyone in the community to do the same, and help us all work together to keep kids safe.”

The National Safety Council (NSC) reported that in 2016 about 7,330 pedestrians died in traffic or non-traffic incidents, an increase from the previous year. NSC research revealed about 18 percent of these deaths occurred when pedestrians improperly crossed roads or intersections. Lack of visibility because of low lighting at night also played a factor in these deaths. Additionally, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween compared to any other day of the year, according to NSC.

Here are some safety tips kids and parents can use on Halloween while out trick-or-treating:

  • Put any electronic devises down and keep your eyes open and be aware of the surroundings
  • Avoid walking on roadways, medians and curbs
  • Avoid entering and exiting alleys and parking lots
  • At twilight and later in the evening, watch for cars, trucks and postal vehicles
  • Stay out of Driveways

“Kids love the magic of Halloween, so let’s make that possible by actively practicing safety and being aware of our surroundings,” added Hargadon.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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