Halloween Health & Safety Tips

Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year for children (and even adults), but it’s also a time when individuals can be more susceptible to injuries and other health related matters. Below you will find some of the most common types of injuries and illnesses that can occur during this time of year, as well as tips on what you can do to prevent them.

TRAFFIC-RELATED ACCIDENTS
With Halloween being a busy time for trick-or-treaters, it’s also not uncommon for there to be more traffic-related accidents than usual. This includes accidents related to drunk driving, as well as accidents involving pedestrians. If you’re going to a Halloween party that you know will be serving alcohol, don’t drink and drive. Instead, make sure you have a designated driver or other alternatives to find your way home safely. If your kids are trick-or-treating, make sure they stay on the sidewalk at all times and be careful when crossing the street or busy intersections. Having your child wear reflective gear so that they are more visible in the dark can also significantly prevent them from being hit by a car.

CANDY
Whether you’re taking your child trick-or-treating in your own neighbourhood or one that isn’t familiar to you, you should always be sure to inspect their candy to ensure they haven’t been tampered with in any way. Always discard items with wrappers or packaging that looks like it has been partially unwrapped, as well as discard anything that looks suspicious in any way. Candy and chocolate can also be a concern if your child has a peanut allergy. While many products are peanut-free, not all are, so it’s important to read the ingredients before you let your child dive into their Halloween stash. If there are no ingredients listed or if it’s not clear as to whether or not the product may contain peanuts, then it would probably be best to avoid consumption all together. You should also make sure that you and your child always brush your teeth after eating candy to prevent cavities! You can find more tips on Halloween candy safety by clicking here.

BURNS AND OTHER INJURIES
Because things like fireworks and firecrackers are common around this time of year, so is the chance of suffering a burn, eye, or other injury. Setting off firecrackers or fireworks can be quite dangerous, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s also not uncommon to suffer burns as a result of open flames (i.e. lit candles in pumpkins.) It’s also a good idea to make sure your costumes are made out of flame-retardant materials to prevent them from catching on fire. Certain costumes, such as pirates or grim reapers, also often come with other accessories and props, such as swords. Children will often tend to play with these props, and if not careful they could cause eye or other minor injuries. Always make sure the costume props are made with softer materials, like foam or rubber.