SATURDAY, Oct. 28, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- On Halloween, the scares are supposed to be imaginary. But, all too often, the make-believe fear becomes genuine anguish when children are injured, or even killed, when they're hit by cars or involved in other types of accidents.
"Research shows that children are actually four times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other night of the year," said Olivia Long, program coordinator at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Safe Kids Georgia.
The end of Daylight Saving Time on Sunday also means that most trick-or-treating will take place when it's dark, making it harder for drivers to spot excited, inattentive kids who may dart out into the road.
Long noted that on Halloween, many children don't pay attention to the pedestrian safety rules they may have learned at school or at home. Instead, they're thinking about seeing their friends, and about the treats they received at the last house, and the goodies they'll get at the next door they haunt.
"So, it's just a really dangerous night because there's so many kids on the road, and a lot of times, they're out there without their parents," she said.
Long said parents can prepare their children to stay safe while having fun on Halloween by reminding kids to:
Even parents who are taking their children trick-or-treating need to educate their youngsters about traffic safety, Long said. Young children can dash out into the street in that split second that a parent may be distracted by the sights and sounds of Halloween.
To help drivers see them, children should carry flashlights or glow sticks and have reflective bags or reflective tape on their costumes. They should not wear masks that interfere with their ability to spot potential hazards.
Cars aren't the only threats to children on Halloween. Falls are another major cause of injuries.
"A lot of injuries do occur when kids are just running through people's lawns," and trip over or run into things such as garden hoses, lawn ornaments, and trees or branches, Long said.
She recommends that homeowners remove any potential hazards from their lawns, steps and porches and have enough outdoor lighting so children can see where they're walking.
One way to avoid potential danger and still have a cauldron full of fun is for neighborhoods to have their own private Halloween celebrations or for parents to take their children to community parties at schools or other locations, Long said.
Here's a grab bag of additional Halloween safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Red Cross of Greater Idaho:
Finally, Prevent Blindness America offers these eye-safety tips.
More information
The U.S. National Safety Council offers more Halloween safety tips.