It’s almost Halloween, a time for children to dress up in costumes, enjoy parties, and eat yummy treats. Valor Health wants to make sure you and your family have a safe Halloween and offers tips to prevent an unplanned visit to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care.
Costume Safety
- When picking your costume, remember to choose one that will be highly visible after dark. You can also add reflective tape to a dark colored costume to help motorists see you.
- Choose a costume that is made of Flame Resistant materials. Information can be found on the costume tag or label.
- Avoid make up if you have sensitive skin. If you do use Halloween make up, be sure to wash it off completely at the end of the night.
Pumpkin Carving
- Small children should never be allowed to carve pumpkins. Knives, as well as blades in pumpkin carving kits, are sharp and lead to many lacerations every year. Always supervise your children during carving. A great option is to have the child draw on the pumpkin with a marker and an adult carve the pumpkin. Another option is to skip the knife all together and opt for child-friendly paint!
Keep Your Yard Safe For Others
- Keep walk ways and yards clear of items that may cause trips and falls on your property. Special attention should be given to items with sharp protrusions like rakes or pitchforks that could cause serious injuries if fallen on. It’s best to light up walk ways to reduce the risk of falls.
Trick or Treating
- Children should be accompanied by a responsible adult. If your children are older and will be going out without adult supervision, a planned and agreed upon route should be discussed, as well as a set time for return.
- When out on the streets, pay close attention to motor vehicles and stay clear of roads.
- Never enter the house of a stranger, no matter how nice they may seem.
Treat Safety / Food Allergies
- All treats should be inspected in the light before consuming for safety. If any package appears to have been tampered with, its safest to discard and avoid eating.
- Children with food allergies must take special care to avoid foods that could result in a life threatening allergic reaction. If in doubt, it is better not to eat a treat you are unsure of.