Halloween is supposed to be fun — hayrides, laughter, and just the right amount of scare.
But last October, two families in different states experienced the kind of fear no parent ever should.
In Tennessee, 12-year-old Samuel Jessen was hiding with friends along a haunted hayride route, waiting for the perfect moment to jump out and scare riders — something countless kids have done for fun. But when he stepped too close, he was struck by a moving trailer and died instantly.
Just one night later, in Minnesota, 13-year-old Alexander Mick was at a similar Halloween event when he, too, was run over by a wagon being pulled by a tractor. His mother described him as “an amazingly unique child who loved Jesus with all his heart… full of life, a drummer, a scout, a friend to everyone.”
Source: CBS News, Oct. 15, 2024
Two boys. Two states. Two accidents — almost identical.
Both trying to add a little fun to the night.
Neither realizing how quickly a harmless scare could turn into heartbreak.
The Hard Truth About “Harmless”
When I read those stories, my first thought wasn’t about Halloween.
It was about work.
Because sometimes, I’ve known people who do risky actions without realizing it — and on job sites, that same mindset shows up when experienced workers think, “I’ve done this a hundred times; it’s fine.”
They step a little too close.
They try something “just this once.”
They assume everything will be fine.
And most of the time, it is — until it isn’t.
That’s why awareness matters so much — not just on job sites, but in life.
It’s the invisible line between safe and sorry.
Safety Prompt in Action: “Awareness Saves Seconds”
During October, try this five-minute reflection with your team — one of our 12 Safety Prompts designed to help crews connect safety with care.
💬 Pick three volunteers and ask each one to share:
“Can you think of a moment when you almost got hurt — not because you didn’t know better, but because you didn’t stop to notice?”
Then ask the group: “What made you realize it in time?”
You’ll hear about near-misses, close calls, and a few lucky saves.
But the real takeaway is this: awareness saves seconds — and seconds save lives.
That’s why we practice. That’s why we pause. That’s why we keep reminding each other that no task is too small for a second look.
👉 Download the 12 Safety Prompts to keep these heart-centered conversations going all year long.
A Word from Laurel 💛😊💛
When I first read about those boys, my heart just stopped.
I could picture them — laughing, whispering, getting ready to jump out and make someone scream.
They were just being kids — yet one small but risky step cost them everything. 💔
It made me think about how quickly fun moments can turn into horror. That’s why awareness of our surroundings matters more — in our homes and on the jobsite.
Awareness means being fully present. It’s paying attention to the moment you’re in, and the people around you. And when you practice that kind of awareness, safety stops being a rule — it becomes a way of caring.
If you’d like to help your crew build that kind of awareness — the kind that comes from the heart, not just the handbook — I’d love to help.
Let’s start a conversation about what awareness looks like when it’s lived out loud, every day, by people who truly look out for each other.
