Halloween Safety: Trick or Treating with Safety in Mind

Halloween, the night kids everywhere stock up on their hidden candy supply to eat and enjoy for several weeks. Safety is important too so here are a few tips for a fun and safe Halloween night.

1.  The infamous Halloween costume takes a great deal of thought and once the costume is decided on it is important that your child tries it on to make sure that it fits. If costumes are too long and drag, kids may trip over them and potentially seriously hurt themselves.

2.  Costumes could be a fire hazard. Many times neighbors put carved pumpkins with a lit candle on their patio and if kids walk by them excess material could catch on fire.

3.  If the costume includes a mask, be sure to try it on for size to be sure your child can clearly see through it – thus avoiding any stumbles or falls.

4.  We see people every year in the ER who hurt themselves while carving a pumpkin. Have younger children draw their designs on the pumpkin so that an adult can cut it out for them.

5.    If you are planning on using candles in your pumpkin, consider artificial lights as an alternative. You never want to leave a lit candle unattended and check to make sure the kids have cleaned out the pumpkin completely to ensure there is no remaining pulp that could pose a potential fire hazard.

6.    No matter how much your child begs you – all kids under 12 should be walked from house-to-house with an adult.

7.    Don’t rely on street lights to guide you, some can be very dim, so it is important that even adults carry a flash light.

8.    Attach your name and phone number to your child’s costume. This is especially helpful if they somehow become separated from you and gives your neighbors the ability to quickly get in touch with you.

9.    Alas, when the evening is over make sure you sit with your kids and visually inspect each piece of candy before it is eaten. If candy has been unwrapped, throw it away. Also, beware of homemade treats from strangers.

10. Be sure to teach your kids the importance of self-control and healthy eating. It is always a good idea to monitor how much candy your kids eat in one sitting, and before you tuck the little ghosts and goblins in bed – make sure they’ve brushed their teeth!

First Choice Emergency Room is the nation’s leading freestanding emergency room system and serves local communities across Texas. Its facilities are innovative, freestanding and fully equipped emergency rooms with state-of-the-art diagnostic technology (CT Scanners, Ultrasound, Digital X-ray) and on-site labs. With five locations in Dallas, Plano residents are accommodated by a conveniently located facility on Preston Road.