Survey: What is your biggest safety concern on Halloween?

Halloween. It’s that time of year devoted to ghosts, witches, pumpkins, and most importantly, candy. For a variety of reasons, Halloween can also be a time of year with increases in certain crimes. We recently surveyed a group of American adults (aged 25+) to measure perspectives on safety at Halloween. Here is what our survey respondents told us.

What is your biggest safety concern on Halloween?

Aside from the respondents who expressed lack of worry, the highest ranking fear stemmed from child predator threats. This is a valid concern since trick-or-treating often warrants interaction between minors and unfamiliar adults.

Fortunately, due to neighborhood watch programs and city-wide ordinances in communities across the nation, stringent protocol is now imposed on registered sex offenders during Halloween — a positive stride in keeping kids unharmed while they enjoy the festivities.    

How to make their safety your priority:

In addition to law enforcement and volunteer initiatives, there are also steps you, as a parent, can take toward protecting your children. For example, a strategically selected Halloween costume has larger implications than just making a fashion statement.

Opting for make-up rather than a mask increases your little trick-or-treaters’ field of vision which will help them avoid oncoming vehicles and potential “stranger danger.” Also, wearing colorful attire that is easily noticeable at night can reduce their risk of being injured by reckless or inebriated drivers — another reported safety concern.

Finally, before sending the kids off on a quest for candy, arm them with flashlights to illuminate their surroundings, stress the importance of not going inside anyone’s home, and instruct them to refrain from eating sweets that haven’t been pre-packaged.

Halloween might conjure up ghoulish images and devious antics, but the fun is more likely to stay worry-free when both parents and children agree to implement these safety measures before the mischief making holiday even begins.