The Ultimate Guide to a Safe Halloween
Halloween is a fun and spooky holiday for parents and children. However, there are many safety issues that could arise when trick-or-treating or attending Spooktober parties. Midwest Express Clinic wants everyone to have a safe and scary Halloween. Follow these tips so this year’s Halloween can be the spookiest and safest ever.
Checking candy
The most iconic part of Halloween, for kids and adults, is the candy. However, some people might try to play tricks with the treats. To keep your children safe this Halloween season, follow these tips to make sure your child has fun and stays safe.
- Never let your child eat candy that has already been opened. A simple rule of thumb when it comes to the safety of candy is only allow your child to eat treats that are factory-wrapped.
- Halloween is the main time of year when your child may confuse candy with medicine. Keep all medication out of sight and reach from your child so there is no confusion. When in doubt, follow these medicine storage practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Though collecting tons of candy can be fun, it may become scary if your child has food allergies. Always read the labels on the candy (if the candy has no labels, play it safe and throw it away). When trick-or-treating, carry an epinephrine auto-injector to be safe.
Trick-or-treating
It’s a terrifying statistic, but the chance of getting hit by cars on Halloween doubles more than any other day of the year. This should not stop the fun, but there are important rules to follow when you’re out on the streets in costume.
- Prepare your child with emergency trick-or-treating items. These include a flashlight, reflective tape attached to the costume and/or bags, and an emergency contact information card just in case your child gets separated from the group.
- Speaking of groups, if possible, go trick-or-treating in a large group. Not only is trick-or-treating more fun with friends, but a larger group can be seen more easily by cars.
Costume safety
The fun of Halloween is dressing up. Your child can become a princess, a dragon or a zombie surgeon. Yet there are safety tips to follow when thinking about your next costume.
- Avoid decorative contact lenses unless you have a prescription. Decorative lenses could cause scratches on the outer layer of the eye or a sore on the cornea.
- If you or your child want to apply paint to your body, make sure it is specifically made for skin. Regular paint is toxic when applied to the body. Remove any makeup or paint before going to sleep to prevent skin irritation.
- Don’t wear a costume that blocks vision. When walking at night, you and your children should be able to see as clearly as possible.
By following these tips, you can breathe easy knowing that your child is as safe as possible. Halloween is meant to be fun and spooky, but also safe. If you look at your child’s candy, keep an eye on them while trick-or-treating, and exercise caution with their costume, this year’s Halloween will be the best ever.
