October 2011 – Halloween Safety
Hello, and welcome to this month’s not-so-scary edition of the HCAM News medical segment – To Your Health, I’m Dr. Jim Kenealy.
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays – I love checking out the cute costumes on the trick-or-treaters and the chance to put my surgical skills to use on pumpkins instead of people. The opportunity to dress up and play pretend brings out the child in all of us. Halloween should be fun, and a little scary, but safe as well. With our children taking to the streets in costumes after dark, it’s important to practice some common-sense safety tips.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, along with the CDC, the National Safety Council, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission all have great suggestions to keep our trick-or-treaters safe.
First, start with the costume. Be sure that costumes, wigs, and hats are made of fire retardant material and fit well, without trailing edges to trip over. Comfortable supporting shoes or sneakers help to avoid twisting an ankle in the dark. Costume weaponry and accessories should be blunt and made of soft flexible material, such as foam. Avoid a mask that impedes vision – non-toxic face paint or make up are better choices. Adding reflective tape, glow sticks, blinkers or strobe lights to costumes and treat bags enhances visibility for drivers in the dusk and darkness. Carrying a flashlight or lantern helps as well. Just remember to stock them with fresh batteries!
When on the trick or treat trail, travel in groups. A responsible adult should be present to escort children under 12. Plan your route and let others know where you plan to go and when you plan to return. Walk on sidewalks, when possible, facing the direction of on-coming traffic – don’t cut across yards or alleys. Only visit homes that have an outdoor or porch light on and are known to the group. Never let children be enticed to enter a home or, worse yet, a car, in search of a treat. It’s a good idea if at least one member of the group carries a cell phone. Little ones should have an I.D. 3 X 5 card on their person with parental contact information. If you encounter any suspicious or dangerous activity, don’t hesitate to contact the police.
Safety doesn’t end when the crew returns home. Though tampering is rare, inspect their treat bags and discard any spoiled, unwrapped, or suspicious items. Likewise, fruits, homemade baked goods and candies should be discarded unless the giver is trusted and well known to you. When in doubt, throw it out. Ration the consumption of treats a bit over a few days - don’t let them gorge themselves all in one evening.
There are also things that you can do to make your home more Halloween friendly. Provide enough outdoor lighting to let trick-or-treaters see the path to your door. Clean walk ways and yards of any hidden obstacles such as sprinklers, hoses, bicycles and rakes. Avoid luminaries that can be tripped over and catch fire. Replace jack o’lantern candles with electric lights or strobes and place them off the ground on a stable table or stand. Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters, such as individual packs of raisins, trail mix, or pretzels. Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, like coloring books or pens and pencils.
Better yet, consider hosting a Halloween party, where you and yours can enjoy the evening in a safe environment. Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity.
Remember a safe Halloween is a truly Happy Halloween! For HCAM News, I’m Dr. Jim Kenealy, speaking To Your Health.