Halloween Safety Is No Trick

The hospital is no place to visit while trick-or-treating. All Hallows Eve is busy atemergencydepartments because, while having fun, kids and grown-ups can forget basic Halloween safety.

The most common Halloween injuries that need emergency care arecar/pedestrian accidents(about twice as many child pedestrians die on October 31 compared to other days); eye injuriesfrom sharp objects; and burns from flammable costumes, says the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Halloween doesn’t fall on a “school night” this year, so emergency departments will be even busier than usual. Mischief-making–especially after dark–is a common cause for injuries that need emergency care.

Hints for Halloween Safety

Common sense can help to protect against a scary episode.

Most importantly, never let young children go out without adult supervision. Other Halloween safety tips:

• Use light-colored clothing and costumes with reflective tape or labels. (Find reflective tape or labels in hardware, office supply and sporting goods stores.)
• Make sure costumes and masks fit correctly to avoid tripping and obstructed sight.
• Use a flashlight or glowstick after sunset.
• Watch for traffic, walk on the sidewalk and cross only at intersections.
• Avoid those who throw eggs or make other kinds of trouble.

Before kids sample their trick-or-treat loot, an adult should check the candy for tampering and any potential food allergens. The AAP recommends waiting until children are home to sort and check treats. Filling up with a good meal before can help kids not to indulge while trick-or-treating or at parties.

This post was written by Michael Guttenberg, MD, director of emergency medicine, Forest Hills Hospital.

For more North Shore-LIJ Health Blog posts, go to http://blog.northshorelij.com/

Contents of the health blog are the property of North Shore-LIJ Health System and are provided as a health resource for consumers, health care professionals and members of the media. The medical content on the North Shore-LIJ Health Blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for consultation with your physician regarding diagnosis, treatment or any other form of specific medical advice. These materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. “North Shore-LIJ Health System,” “North Shore-LIJ,” “northshorelij.com,” “VivoHealth,” their related entities and logos are trademarks of the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Copyright © 2011 North Shore-LIJ Health System. All rights reserved.