Halloween frights should be fun, not painful. Avoiding a scary visit to the hospital is simple, but requires some forethought.
Here are the most common reasons kids visit the hospital on Halloween, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and tips for avoiding the trip:
Pedestrian collisions with vehicles
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- A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children.
- Use flashlights, and reflective tape on bags and costumes, to be more visible.
- Avoid darting from house to house. Stay on the sidewalk and cross at corners. If there’ s no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
- If possible, choose hats and nontoxic makeup rather than masks, which can block a child’s vision (and yours if you’re the responsible adult!)
Eye injuries from sharp objects
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- Choose soft, flexible props when possible.
- If a costume calls for swords, cane, or sticks, they should not be sharp, or too long (to avoid falls).
Burns from flammable costumes
Make sure costumes, wigs and accessories are made of flame-resistant materials.
- Try a glow stick instead of a candle in jack o’lanterns.
- Keep candlelit jack o’lanterns, and any candles, away from curtains and other flammable objects. Never leave them unattended.