Preventing the most common Halloween ER injuries
The most fun age to take children trick or treating may be when they are toddlers. But that can also be when they are most in danger. This is partly because they are very mobile, but also uncoordinated, leading to the three most common preventable Halloween injuries. Dr. Brian Keaton, President of the American College of Emergency Physicians says, “Every year you see kids injured while trick-or-treating, and it’s always frustrating because the injuries are easily prevented.” What do ER doctors see most often? Eye injuries and burns, and children hit by cars as they go through the neighborhood.
To safeguard their eyes, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other similar organizations have suggested that wands, swords, and other accessories should be blunted. Also make sure they are short enough that your little one does not trip over it. And, in case he does trip, make sure it is flexible enough to bend under him. The University of Michigan Health System also recommends that you take the lenses out of decorative eyeglasses.
Because of the burn risk, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission urges parents to only purchase costumes that are flame resistant. Of course, if you make your own costume, keep in mind that some fabrics are more flammable than others. The University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center says that the most flammable fabric is 100% cotton. The safest is polyester. Don’t let little trick-or-treaters wear capes and other billowy costumes that can come in contacts with burning jack-o-lanterns.
When it comes to traffic injuries, have your children wear reflective tape no the their costumes, even if it “spoils” some of the look. Keep them always at arm’s length and make them carry their own lights.
Of course, there are other common sense advisories, such as making sure shoes aren’t too big, and that you don’t obstruct airways, vision or hearing. Infant costumes should not have accessories that can cause choking. For this reason, many parents use face paint for little children instead of masks. That is a smart choice, but can have its own potential downside. To avoid allergic reactions with a child’s sensitive skin, use only FDA approved cosmetics (note that zinc sulfide is the only luminescent color approved for skin).
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