Trick-or-Treat Walkers
Seattle is staying safe this Halloween with an assist from State Farm
The scariest night of the year for pedestrians and drivers alike is October 31. Aside from the costumes and haunted houses, the thought of a child darting in front of a car can cause anxiety for any driver and parent.
Sometimes local tragedies serve as unfortunate reminders about the need to keep trick-or-treaters safe. There are an average of 5.5 fatalities each year on Halloween night. This is more than two times the average of fatalities for other days. Statistics show 23% of fatalities occur with children between the ages of five and eight; and 70% of accidents occur away from an intersection or crosswalk.
So what can you do to keep your little princesses, pirates, police officers and witches safe this Halloween? One alternative is block parties.
Every year, a block party is organized in the Magnolia community of Seattle, WA. An entire block is sectioned off so residents can bring Trick-or-Treaters of all ages for an evening of fun and safety. Booths are set up and kids and parents are able to go to booths for treats.
Take Winter by Storm, a safety coalition in Seattle, WA, looks for block parties to help spread safety messages in a fun environment. At previous block parties, the coalition provided goodie bags with reflectors, flashlights, safety flashers, safety coloring books, and parent brochures.
State Farm agent Brian Chambers participates with his own booth and brings along a special treat for the kids, the Good NeighBear. "We participate because we love getting to celebrate with our community and it’s a great opportunity to get to know more of our neighbors."
Dozens of communities in the Seattle area and across the country have scheduled block parties or trick-or-treat events for Halloween this year. You can check with your local city council, chambers of commerce, or church groups to find Halloween block parties in your area and dress up, get spooked, and stay safe.
“Halloween is the perfect holiday for families to talk about safety. We want to encourage families to talk to their children about how to stay safe during Halloween night and beyond,” says State Farm agent Stephanie Jordan, who participates in a Halloween block party in Tacoma WA.
Take Winter by Storm is a collaborative, public-private effort between King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap Counties, the City of Seattle, State Farm, National Weather Service/NOAA, local public utilities, and various local retailers. These organizations have joined forces in the major multi-media public awareness campaign to raise community awareness of hazardous weather and help protect lives and property.
