Newswise — With monsters, goblins and super-heroes descending on homes everywhere, it's important to follow some common sense practices and to be extra vigilant for possible safety hazards so that children have a fun, healthy and safe Halloween.
Most people think of Halloween as a time for fun and treats for children but the fact is that Halloween-related injuries oftentimes occur. Such injuries however can be prevented if parents closely supervise school-aged children during trick-or-treat activities. Make this year's holiday a safe one by following these safety tips on costumes, treats and decorations:
CostumesHalloween-related injuries often involve burns from flammable costumes and decorations, including ignition from open flames, such as candles and Jack O' Lanterns. Other accidents occur due to abrasions from sharp objects attached to masks or costumes. Parents should be sure to look for fabrics labeled "Flame Resistant" or choose flame-resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester when purchasing costumes, masks, beards and wigs. Flame-resistant fabrics resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
It's important that homemade costumes be made of inherently flame-resistant fabrics, such as nylon or polyester. To minimize the risk of contact with candles and other fire sources, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts. Also, be cautious of long draped items that could cause an entanglement hazard.
Some other safety tips to consider before sending children out for the evening: "¢ If your child wears a mask, hat or scarf, make sure they fit securely, provides adequate ventilation, and has eye holes large enough to allow full vision. "¢ Apply non-toxic face paint or cosmetics directly to the face as an alternative to masks. If you select a mask, make sure it fits securely and has large eyeholes for full vision. "¢ Allow your child to wear short costumes and properly fitting shoes to avoid tripping. "¢ Use costumes that are light or bright enough to make children more visible at night."¢ Decorate costumes, bags, and sacks with reflective tape and stickers. "¢ Children should carry flashlights to see and be seen.
Trick-or-treating Both children and adults need to give real attention to safety on this annual day of make-believe. And with a little extra thought and planning, you can make sure that all children have fun and safe outings on Halloween. If your child chooses to trick-or-treat, please be sure to:"¢ Accompany children under age 10. "¢ Attach the name, address and phone number of children to their clothes in case they become separated from adults. "¢ Allow your child to travel only in familiar areas, along a pre-established route with a flashlight to guide their way. "¢ Tell your child to walk, not run, making sure to stop at all street corners and look left, right and left again before crossing."¢ Never allow your child to dart out into a street or cross between parked cars. They should cross streets only at intersections and crosswalks. "¢ Teach children their home phone number and make sure they have change to call home. "¢ Restrict trick-or-treating visits to homes with an illuminated porch or outside light. Tell children never to enter a home or an apartment building. "¢ The sidewalk is the safest place for trick-or-treaters. Teach children not to cut across yards. "¢ Establish set time for children to return home.
Candy It is a good idea for children to eat a good meal before trick or treating so that they don't fill up on holiday treats. Candy should not be sampled until children are home to sort and check treats. "It is rare for candy to be tampered with at Halloween," says Mike Gittelman, MD, an emergency physician at Cincinnati Children's. "However, it is a good idea for parents to inspect the candy to make sure that each piece is individually wrapped and safely sealed." X-ray machines are not helpful since they only help to distinguish candy tainted with a metallic object; it does not indicate if the candy was tampered with in other ways. "If the candy is not wrapped or looks suspicious, it is better to just throw it away." Also, candy that can cause choking in smaller aged children (eg. children < 5 yrs of age) should be discarded or given to older children.
Dr. Gittelman also urges parents and caregivers to carefully examine any toys or novelty items received by tick-or-treaters under three years of age. Do not allow young children to have any items that are small enough to present a choking hazard or that have small parts or components that could separate during use. Many of these items have warning labels. If you're unsure about an item, parents can buy a child safety choke tube that functions as a small parts tester. A choke tube is designed to be about the same diameter as a child's airway (windpipe). If an object fits inside of the tube tester, then it is too small to be within reach of a young child. Choke tubes can be found in children's specialty stores.
Children's Fears Halloween can sometimes be a frightening holiday for children. To help ease the fright of "monsters" and unfamiliar sights, child psychologists at Cincinnati Children's say parents should help their children interpret Halloween as a make-believe situation. For example, parents can show their children that someone is just wearing a mask by asking that person to remove it. In addition, allowing children to try on their costumes before Halloween can give them time to get used to how they look.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is one of America's top three children's hospitals for general pediatrics and is highly ranked for its expertise in digestive diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer, neonatal care, heart care and neurosurgery, according to the annual ranking of best children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. One of the three largest children's hospitals in the U.S., Cincinnati Children's is affiliated with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and is one of the top two recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health. For its achievements in transforming healthcare, Cincinnati Children's is one of six U.S. hospitals since 2002 to be awarded the American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize ® for leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care. The hospital is a national and international referral center for complex cases, so that children with the most difficult-to-treat diseases and conditions receive the most advanced care leading to better outcomes. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org .
RSS