Safest Neighborhoods to Trick-or-Treat in Las Vegas
Updated: September 2023
Trick-or-treating should end with candy, not catastrophe. Sadly, not all children this year will make it to November 1st without injury. While trick-or-treating is a common and highly anticipated Halloween tradition, it can come with inherent risks to a child’s health and safety. From drunk drivers to candy someone has tampered with, trick-or-treating can come with many risks you may not have considered.
At Claggett & Sykes, we want you and your children to be safe – but if something happens, we are here to help. Our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys have secured millions of dollars for injury clients across the state. You pay nothing until we win your case, and the initial consultation is free. Contact us if you or your child sustains any injuries on or near Halloween this year.
Top 5 Safest Neighborhoods in Las Vegas for Trick-or-Treaters
In 2022, SmartAsset ranked North Las Vegas as the #1 place to celebrate Halloween. (Las Vegas proper ranked #6 on their list.) Play it safe this year by sticking to one of the safest neighborhoods for trick-or-treating in Las Vegas, according to Zillow, as well as obeying general trick-or-treating safety tips.
Zillow calculated the results based on child population, single-family home density and Zillow Home Value indexes in each city. It also ranked every city’s neighborhoods for the top five best communities for
- Tule Springs
- West Las Vegas
- Sheep Mountain
- Desert Shores
- Twin Lakes
These neighborhoods in Las Vegas have the best ratios of single-family homes and children for maximum candy opportunities for trick-or-treaters. They also have relatively low crime rates compared to other parts of Las Vegas, Nevada. Taking the kids to any of these parts of Vegas could make for a safer and more productive Halloween night for everyone. No matter what neighborhood becomes your trick-or-treating destination, however, follow a few basic safety tips to further decrease the odds of an accident.
[Infographic provided by the National Fire Protection Association]
Safety Tips
Costume & Decoration Safety
If you plan on trick-or-treating this Halloween, start by buying or making smart costumes. Make sure your kids have costumes made of flame-retardant material for best fire safety. From 2017 to 2019, firefighters responded to an estimated 9,200 fires over the three days around Halloween. These fires caused 100 injuries and 25 fatalities. Decorate your home wisely to avoid fire hazards.
In 2022, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that “over the past three years, CPSC estimates that an annual average of 3,200 Halloween-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments.” Based on their data:
- 55% were related to pumpkin carving;
- 25% were due to falls while putting up or taking down decorations, tripping on costumes or walking while trick-or-treating; [and]
- 20% of the injuries included lacerations, ingestions and other injuries associated with costumes, pumpkins or decorations, and allergic reactions or rashes.
Make sure to supervise any children who are putting up Halloween decorations. Costumes should not have masks or wigs that obscure a child’s vision. The length of the costume should not pose a trip-and-fall hazard. Incorporate bright colors, lights or reflective materials in costumes to increase visibility.
Road & Pedestrian Safety
Practice road safety as both a driver and pedestrian around Halloween. As a driver, watch for walking or crossing children. Kids may dart into the road from between parked cars or cross when they do not have the right-of-way. They can be unpredictable and may ignore the rules of the road. Always obey speed limits and drive even slower in residential areas. Watch for groups of trick-or-treating children. Respect neighborhoods that see many trick-or-treaters by taking a detour around them rather than driving through.
As a pedestrian, obey all traffic rules. Halloween does not change pedestrian rights-of-way in Las Vegas. You do not automatically have the right-of-way to enter the street. You must stop on the sidewalk, look both ways and wait for a safe time to cross. At signalized crosswalks, wait for the Walk signal. Try to avoid crossing the street anywhere other than crosswalks or intersections. Tell your children to do the same. Make eye contact with drivers to check that they see you before you cross. Teach your children to always stay on sidewalks and walk in groups. If you are hurt by a negligent driver, contact our Las Vegas personal injury lawyers, we can help you get the compensation you deserve. No fees unless we win. Learn more about your options on our Las Vegas pedestrian accident attorney page.
Interacting with Strangers
Teach your kids rules about how to interact with strangers on Halloween. Tell them never to walk inside anyone’s home or ride in someone’s car. Send them with a responsible adult, even if they are trick-or-treating in your neighborhood. Children should eat before trick-or-treating so they will be less tempted to eat their candy before returning home. Inspect the treats your kids bring home for signs of something amiss. Look for funny smells, homemade items, damaged wrappers, and hazards such as needles or razor blades. Send trick-or-treaters out with at least one cellphone in case of an emergency.
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