SAVANNAH, Ga. – As Halloween approaches, the excitement of trick-or-treating will soon fill the streets, but the focus remains firmly on ensuring the safety of young revelers. Authorities caution that Halloween night poses a higher risk for pedestrian accidents than any other holiday, urging both drivers and pedestrians to exercise increased vigilance.

Community leaders emphasize the importance of safety awareness in the days leading up to Halloween. Statistics indicate that Halloween presents one of the most perilous nights for children navigating streets on foot, with pedestrian fatalities nearly doubling. In response, Savannah Police will be patrolling high-traffic areas, while Memorial Health advises parents to make their children easily visible.

“Our primary concern on Halloween night centers around pedestrian safety,” noted Dr. Alana Koehler, an Emergency Room Pediatrician at Memorial Health. “Children on foot face twice the risk of fatal accidents compared to other nights. Simple measures, such as ensuring costumes are visible, can significantly enhance safety.”

Corporal Rebekah Helmick of the Savannah Police Department recalls patrolling the Ardsley Park neighborhood last Halloween. Savannah stands out as one of the few cities nationwide permitting open containers, allowing those 21 and over to consume alcohol in designated downtown areas. This policy, combined with holiday festivities, can increase the likelihood of impaired driving.

“It’s crucial not to drink and drive, especially during celebrations like Halloween,” warned Cpl. Helmick. “Officers will be on the lookout for such behavior, as it endangers not only the driver but also pedestrians and other motorists.”

While extra police presence will be in many neighborhoods, SPD says they will go along streets known for heavy trick-or-treat traffic. One of those is Ardsley Park and central Savannah. Many little witches, ghouls and all kinds of trick-or-treaters will be flooding the streets and sidewalks, so officers are reminding drivers to be alert. When driving on Halloween night, make sure to slow down, stay off your phone, and watch for kids darting between parked cars.

At Memorial Health, doctors say they see more injuries on Halloween than almost any other night – often from tripping or low-visibility costumes. They recommend adding reflective tape, glow sticks, or flashlights – and checking candy for allergens or choking hazards before kids dig in. Doctors tell that a few seconds of preparation, officials say, can prevent a lifetime of regret.

“I recommend all families inspect the candy when their kids come home from trick-or-treating. That’s a time to set aside any candies that might be dangerous. This means anything that has food, allergens and choking hazards, anything that’s unwrapped or any homemade treats that were made by someone that you don’t know well,” said Dr. Koehler.

Children can gather dozens of sweet treats while filling up their trick-or-treat bags or buckets. However, health professionals say there is a limit children should stick to for sugar intake.

“It is important that children have reasonable goals for how much candy they’re going to have in a night and that parents set reasonable expectations and limits. Ideally, it would be less than 25 grams in a day, so that ends up being only about five or six pieces of Halloween candy,” said Dr. Koehler.

For maximum safety, officials ask trick-or-treaters to go out between 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Police and health officials say a little planning keeps Halloween fun – and out of the Emergency Room.

There’s going to be a lot of kids and a lot of parents going house to house across the Coastal Empire this Friday. The United States Census Bureau estimates around 41 million children between the ages of 5 to 14 years trick-or-treat. Officials say, just don’t go to a house that doesn’t have a light on outside.

“Be safe, be aware of your surroundings. That’s the biggest thing. Trick-or-treat in neighborhood you’re familiar with and only go to houses where the porch light is on outside. Make sure kids don’t go into homes. Just stand on the outside, get whatever candy and then move on to the next,” said Cpl. Helmick.

has more tips below to keep your Halloween fun – not frightening.

Click here from Memorial Health on a more detailed list to have safe fun.

Tip overview from SPD:

• Trick-or-treat only during the suggested timeframe – 5-8 p.m. on Oct. 31
• Only visit familiar, well-lit neighborhoods and homes that have their porch lights on.
• Walk on the sidewalk and observe all traffic laws.
• Parents should inspect children’s candy before they eat any. If anything is unwrapped or looks suspicious, throw it away.
• Never go into a home while trick-or-treating.
• Children should always trick-or-treat with an adult.
• Notify the police of any suspicious activity.

For those who want a different pace of trick-or-treating or to get more into the Halloween fun…. SPD will host “Blue Light Fright Night” on Friday, Oct 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Central Precinct located at 1710 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. This event will include a “haunted house” walk-through and candy for attendees, with pre-filled bags for those in strollers and wheelchairs.