No Tricks, Just Treats! - Halloween Safety!
It’s almost time for Halloween! You can almost hear the moaning ghosts and rattling bones… Soon, costumed kiddos, young and old, are going to be running the streets, searching for houses giving out candy. But as fun as Halloween is, it can be pretty dangerous and unhealthy for children. So, HealthCARE Express is here to give you a few tips to have a safe and healthy Halloween.
- Only use short, soft, flexible, blunt prop weapons if your child’s costume requires one (ie. a plastic pirate sword).
- Never let younger children trick-or-treat alone. If older children do go out alone, agree on a specific time they should be home and instruct them to contact you regularly.
- Use reflective tape on children’s costumes to ensure drivers see them in the dark.
- Check treats for choke hazards or tampering. Do not eat homemade treats.
- Use a flashlight if out at night.
- Walk between houses, don’t run, and stay on the sidewalks whenever possible. If there aren’t any sidewalks, stay close to the curb. Do not cross the street from between parked cars; always cross in open areas. Of course, look both ways before crossing the street. Make sure they do not look at their phones while crossing.
- Test costume makeup in small areas on the arm before applying to face to check for irritation, and remove thoroughly before bed.
- Don’t let young children wear decorative contact lenses, and teenagers and young adults shouldn’t wear them without a prescription from an optometrist.
- Make sure all costumes are well-fitted to avoid tripping, injury, or vision obscuring.
- Only visit well-lit homes, and be sure to instruct children to never enter homes of strangers.
- Don’t walk near candles or luminaries. Make sure children wear fire-resistant costumes.
- Don’t let young children carve pumpkins. Let them draw on them or decorate them instead.
- Keep jack-o-lanterns on solid surfaces, away from walkways or doors. Consider using glow sticks or electric candles instead of real candles.
- If you’re not trick-or-treating and just driving on Halloween, be sure to be very observant.
Trick-or-treating, or other fun Halloween activities, can be used to encourage children to be active. A good meal before trick-or-treating can also discourage children from overeating Halloween treats. You should also ration out your child’s candy after trick-or-treating to keep them from overeating it and getting sick. If you offer out treats at your own house, you can opt to give out small toys, stickers, or similar objects. These are, of course, healthier options, but do you really want to be that house?
If your child (or you) gets a little sick from eating too much Halloween candy, or if they get hurt while out trick-or-treating, be sure to drop by HealthCARE Express!
