With a little help from the OnStar Guardian app, the whole family can feel safe and have a fun Halloween
Whether you’re planning your child’s first memorable Halloween, or you’ve already got a tried-and-true trick-or-treat route, this holiday is all about dressing up and creating memories with friends and family.
For decades now, before every Halloween, news headlines start warning parents to watch out for poisoned candy and razor blades in apples. In reality, there’s little to no documented evidence of this ever happening. Sure, we should all use common sense and be cautious when taking candy from strangers. But the real risk every family should take seriously is the fact that children are three times more likely to be fatally injured by a car on this holiday. And that number grows to 10 times more likely if the children are between the ages of 4 and 8, according to a study in JAMA Pediatrics.
These numbers aren’t meant to scare you into staying home this Halloween. OnStar
Create glow-in-the-dark costumes
Make your child easy to see at night by having them wear a brightly colored costume. If they’re going for a darker look, add glow sticks, reflective tape or other glow-in-the-dark elements to their ensemble. Or keep it easy by picking one of the many glow-in-the-dark costumes online.
Pick face masks wisely
If your child’s costume includes a face mask, make sure it doesn’t obstruct their eyesight. Even well-fitted masks can block peripheral vision, so be sure the mask won’t turn into a hazard. You can also try using nontoxic glow-in-the-dark face paint instead, which is usually a safer option than masks. Test the paint on a small area of your child’s skin beforehand to make sure they aren’t allergic.
Bring flashlights and glow sticks
Pack a flashlight with fresh batteries for when the sun goes down or bring glow necklaces and bracelets for friends and family to wear as you walk from house to house.
Make a well-lit path to your home
The last thing you want is a child tripping on your property as they walk up to get candy. Instead of relying on a couple of candlelit pumpkins that may get blown out from the wind, try adding some orange holiday lights or simply turn on your porch light.
Whether you plan to leave a light on with a sign that says “Help yourself” or pass out candy one by one, double-check that any tripping hazards are removed from your walkway such as overgrown bushes, toys or decorations that fell out of place.
Remind everyone of street safety
Simple reminders can make a big impact. Remind everyone to look both ways before they cross the street and wait for the pedestrian walk sign before crossing any busy streets. Be sure to establish family rules before heading out and stick to them. A good rule of thumb when trick-or-treating with younger children is to make sure they always have a parent or older sibling nearby before going to the next house.
Keep the Guardian app handy
Download the OnStar Guardian® app
If you happen to encounter a medical emergency while walking around the neighborhood, push the red Emergency button in the app. A specially trained Emergency Advisor
Lastly, if you plan to drive to a neighboring town for your trick-or-treating adventure and don’t have an OnStar-equipped vehicle, having the Guardian app can help to ease your mind with features like Mobile Crash Response, Roadside Assistance
This year’s Halloween should be a fun, carefree time for the whole family, but it’s still reassuring to know OnStar has your back no matter what.