Tuesday, October 08, 2019
Whether your children will be going trick-or-treating or attending a Halloween party, a few precautions can help make their experience safe and enjoyable.
Erica Surman, RN, pediatric trauma program manager, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, said, “With Halloween approaching, now is a good time to talk to your kids about their safety, especially costume safety. By taking precautions, parents can increase the likelihood their trick-or-treater will have an enjoyable Halloween.”
Below are 10 costume safety tips:
- Purchase or make costumes that are bright, reflective and can be seen in low light conditions. Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes.
- Most commercial costumes are flame resistant, check the label on your child’s costume to ensure it’s made of flame-retardant material.
- Make sure that if a costume has a prop like a knife or pitchfork that it’s soft and flexible. This will ensure if the treat-or-treater falls or trips they will not be injured by sharp or hard edges.
- Test all face paint and costume make-up to make sure your child doesn’t develop a rash or adverse skin reaction.
- Make sure your child’s costume doesn’t impede their ability to walk- shoes should fit properly and the length of the costume should allow your child to move freely.
- Be careful of sharp edges on masks and make sure it fits your child properly.
- Tell your child to remove their mask when walking from house to house for better vision.
- Don’t allow trick-or-treaters to change their eye color with nonprescription cosmetic contact lenses. This may not only impede vision, but can result in an eye infection and/or damage to the eyes.
- Make yourself and your trick-or-treaters visible- use reflective treat bags; bring flashlights with new batteries; or use “glow sticks.”
- Older children should wear a watch and carry a cell phone.
Surman added, “Beaumont is committed to helping patients manage their family’s health. Education and awareness are key to accident and trauma prevention.”