Halloween Safety Tips
Halloween Safety Month is in October, and we’re going to arm you with safety tips and instructions so that you have a spooky Halloween in the safest way possible. Halloween is a time for creative costumes, trick-or-treating, soul cakes, and jack-o’-lanterns. Unfortunately, it is also a time when accidents happen and, therefore, it is vital that we understand the dos and don’ts while celebrating Halloween.
Halloween Health & Safety Tips
Keep these tips in mind to help ensure your children have a healthy and safe Halloween.
Costumes
Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
Make sure that shoes fit well, and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement, or contact with flame.
Look for "flame resistant" on the costume labels. Wigs and accessories should also clearly indicate this.
Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives to masks. Makeup should be tested ahead of time on a small patch of your child's skin to ensure there are no unpleasant surprises or allergic reactions on the big day. Toxic ingredients have been found in cosmetics marketed to teens and tweens.
Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes and blocking vision.
Avoid any sharp or long swords, canes, or sticks as a costume accessory. Your child can easily be hurt by these accessories if he or she stumbles or trips.
Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as "one size fits all," or "no need to see an eye specialist," getting decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. This can cause pain, inflammation and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.
Pumpkins
Never allow small children to carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers. Then parents can do the cutting. For the best control while carving, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (AAHS) recommends adults use a small pumpkin saw (sold with other Halloween goods) in small strokes, directing the blade away from themself and others. The AAHS advises against using larger blades, which can become lodged in the pumpkin and cause injuries when pulled out. If injured by a blade, here are some guidelines to help you determine whether or not stitches are needed.
Consider using a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.
Do not place candlelit pumpkins on a porch or any path where visitors may pass close by. They should never be left unattended.
At home
Remove tripping hazards to keep your home safe for visiting trick-or-treaters. Keep the porch and front yard clear of anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
Check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
Sweep wet leaves from sidewalks and steps to prevent anyone from slipping on them.
Restrain pets so they do not jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.