Have a Safe and Spooktacular Halloween

From pumpkin carving accidents to masks that limit visibility, Halloween can be just as scary for parents as it can be for the little goblins and ghouls roaming the streets. Here are some tips from Palos Medical Group to make the holiday a little safer for your family.

Scene setters

· Don’t let children use knives. Instead, have them paint their pumpkins with art supplies. Try glitter paints or colored markers. Leave the carving to the adults.

· Never leave candlelit pumpkins unattended. Instead use battery-operated candles or glow sticks to illuminate your carved creations.

· Serve children a healthy dinner before trick-or-treating so they don’t fill up on candy.

· Steer clear of dry ice. Direct contact with the skin can cause a frostbite-type injury.

· Make sure trick-or-treaters will be safe when visiting your home, too. Remove anything that could be a tripping hazard. If you welcome trick-or-treaters make sure your outside lights are on and light the walkway to your door, if possible.

· Sweep wet leaves from sidewalks and steps.

In disguise

· It’s forecast to be a chilly one on Friday. Make sure your child’s costume leaves room for layers of warm clothing to be worn underneath.

· Don’t let a costume hang so long that it becomes a tripping hazard.

· Make sure children are wearing comfortable shoes that fit them.

· If your child will be trick or treating after dark, make sure to attach a reflective patch to his or her costume. Also, glow sticks will keep them illuminated.

· Parents should always accompany their children while trick-or-treating.

· Children should never go into a stranger’s house under any circumstances.

· Limit trick-or-treating to your neighborhood and the homes of people you and your children know.

· Make sure children have a flashlight to see and be seen more clearly. Have them stick to sidewalks for safer walking. We don’t want your child to be the thing that goes bump in the night.

Look at the loot

· When your children get home, check all treats to make sure they’re sealed. Throw out candy with torn packages or holes in the packages, spoiled items and any homemade treats that haven’t been made by someone you know.

· Don’t allow young children to have hard candy or gum that could cause choking.

· After the night is over, ration the pieces by giving them a couple at a time. Don’t leave the candy bowl out in the open because it may disappear before you can say “Boo!”

“Halloween is a night of fun for all ages. When parents get involved in the festivities and go out with the children, it makes it that much safer,” says Catherine McDoniel, a family practice physician with Palos Medical Group. “But remember to wear layers under costumes because it’s expected to be cold Friday night. Let’s leave the cause of the goose bumps to the spooky Halloween haunts.”