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Pediatric emergency department director shares tips on keeping Halloween safe for kids

Children are on average twice as likely to be fatally hit by a vehicle on Halloween than on any other day of the year according to the nonprofit Safe Kids Worldwide. Adobe Stock photo.

Children are on average twice as likely to be fatally hit by a vehicle on Halloween than on any other day of the year according to the nonprofit Safe Kids Worldwide. Adobe Stock photo.

Halloween is on the horizon and soon children will set off on their quest for tasty treats. It’s a time of great anticipation and cheer, but it can also present some risks. 

With all the build-up to Halloween, children — surrounded by friends, costumes, the darkness, and smartphones — can become distracted and may overlook basic safety precautions in their earnest quest to acquire as much candy as possible. That’s where parents and guardians can step in to provide support — to be aware of those distractions and be an extra pair of eyes and ears.

Dr. Michael Mitchell is the medical director of the pediatric emergency department at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Brenner Children’s Hospital. He says maintaining focus is crucial when crossing the street — what he calls the most dangerous aspect of trick-or-treating.

"That’s a very critical time to have everybody wait, and we collect as a group and we cross together," says Mitchell. "That’s a great strategy and it keeps kids sort of in check that we have to wait because unfortunately drivers can be distracted too. And many costumes around Halloween are dark. It’s hard for drivers to see some of these kids sometimes."

According to the nonprofit Safe Kids Worldwide, on average, children are more than twice as likely on Halloween to be hit and killed by a moving vehicle than on any other day of the year. To help minimize the risk of accidents, Mitchell recommends bright and reflective costumes, glow sticks and reflective tape to increase visibility. 

Before his arrival in the Triad, David had already established himself as a fixture in the Austin, Texas arts scene as a radio host for Classical 89.5 KMFA. During his tenure there, he produced and hosted hundreds of programs including Mind Your Music, The Basics and T.G.I.F. Thank Goodness, It's Familiar, which each won international awards in the Fine Arts Radio Competition. As a radio journalist with 88.5 WFDD, his features have been recognized by the Associated Press, Public Radio News Directors Inc., Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals, and Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas. David has written and produced national stories for NPR, KUSC and CPRN in Los Angeles and conducted interviews for Minnesota Public Radio's Weekend America.

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