Oct. 19, 2023 | Next week is Halloween, a favorite time of year for little kids and big kids as well. While Halloween can be a lot of fun, it also comes with certain risks. For example, according to safekids.org, the likelihood of children getting hit by a car doubles on Halloween more than on any other day of the year. Lack of visibility because of low lighting at night plays a factor in these incidents. To avoid any spook-tacular accidents, a responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds. If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you. Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends. Teach your children never to enter a stranger’s home or car and agree on a specific time at which they should return home. If you’re going to be driving on Halloween, watch for children in dark clothing at dusk and later on and enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.

Oct. 19, 2023 | When it comes to a child’s Halloween costume, being seen isn’t the only way to remain safe. What your child wears can increase the chance of injuries, so it’s important to make sure that your child’s costume is the right size in order to avoid trips, falls and distractions while walking. Make sure your child’s shoes are visible, and avoid costumes with long trains or capes that drag on the ground. It’s a good idea to rely on non-toxic face paint and makeup instead of masks, which tend to obstruct a child’s vision. If your child does insist on wearing a mask, make sure the size of the eye holes is twice as big as your child’s eyes. Hand props like toy swords, wands and shields should be made of soft materials to avoid any pokes or scratches. Take photos with full costume accessories and hand props before trick or treating and leave additional costume items at home. And be sure your child’s costume is flame resistant to avoid any accidents around open flames.

Oct. 19, 2023 | Next week is Halloween, a fun-filled time that many children and parents alike look forward to all year long. As far as Halloween candy goes, cases of tampered candy are rare and mostly the stuff of urban legend but it is worthwhile to be mindful of what can be found in your child’s trick or treat bag. It’s a good idea to serve your kids a healthy, filling dinner before they go out trick-or-treating so they are less likely to eat candy while out in the neighborhood. This will give you the chance to look through all of their candy when you get home. Be sure to throw away any candy with tears, holes or damaged wrappers. Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys from the Halloween bags. And if your child has a food allergy, be sure to check all labels before any candy is unwrapped and gobbled up. Tell children not to accept or eat anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.

Oct. 19, 2023 | Carving a pumpkin is a popular Halloween tradition but it can be treacherous. Every year hand surgeons see thousands of finger and hand injuries on Halloween that can range from small cuts to even finger amputations. In fact, Halloween is one of the top three holidays that lead to the most emergency room visits each year, according to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. It’s recommended that your carving space be clean, dry and well-lit. Your hands should be dry, as should all of your tools. It’s easy for your hand or your pumpkin to slip on wet surfaces and cause you to cut yourself or someone else. Always carve away from the body, not toward the body, in case of a slip. Carve slowly and steadily.  A serrated pumpkin saw from a carving kit is easier to use than a knife. And leave the actual carving to the adults. Let the young children draw an outline on the pumpkin, help clean out the pulp and help pick out the seeds for snacking later.

Oct. 19, 2023 | The only thing cuter than kids in costumes are pets in costumes, but you should be aware that Halloween can pose some risks for the four-legged members of your family. All chocolate, particularly baking and dark chocolate, can be dangerous and even lethal for dogs and cats. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include diarrhea, increased heart rate, seizures and vomiting. Candy containing the artificial sweetener xylitol, can also be dangerous for dogs. Xylitol poisoning can lead to a drop in blood sugar, which can result in liver failure. And keep all pumpkins and decorative vegetation away from pets. While small amounts of pumpkin and corn are safe for pets, eating large amounts of unfamiliar food or moldy vegetation can cause gastrointestinal distress. If pets eat something too large, it can cause an intestinal blockage, and some types of molds can produce mycotoxins that can lead to neurological problems in animals.