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Laurisa M
/ Categories: Pediatrics

Halloween Safety Tips

Dr. Trina Blythe - Way to Grow Pediatrics

Trina Blythe, MD, is a BJC Medical Group pediatrician with Way to Grow Pediatrics.
Location: Progress West Hospital, 20 Progress Point Parkway, Suite 108.
Phone: 636.344.2400.

 

The leaves are on the ground and the nights are cooler, which means Halloween is just around the corner. Here are a few tips to keep your trick or treating princesses and pirates safe.

Costume safety

  • Make sure that the child can see well from inside the costume. Avoid masks that obscure your child's vision.
  • If it is cold on Halloween night children should wear a coat or jacket over the costume or a long shirt and pants under the costume as appropriate.
  • Make sure that the costume does not prevent the child from being able to walk and is not a tripping hazard.

 

Treat safety

  • If possible feed children dinner before going out so that they are a little less tempted to overindulge on candy.
  • Consider handing out pencils, stickers and safe toys instead of candy.
  • Only go to houses of people you know.
  • Limit how many pieces of candy per day to avoid stomach aches.
  • All candy should be inspected by an adult before allowing children to eat it.
  • Brush teeth after eating candy. Your dentist will thank you.
  • Candy that is not in a wrapper or is in a torn wrapper should be discarded.
  • Open the chocolate candy before your child eats it.
  • Any chocolate that looks like it has melted and solidified again should also be discarded.
  • Any chocolate candy that looks like it has white smudges on it or is flaking off should be discarded.
  • All toys should be inspected for choking hazards or peeling paint especially with the tiny trick-or-treaters.
  • Many dentists have candy buyback programs, consider selling some candy back to your dentist to get it out of the house and away from temptation.

 

Nighttime Safety

  • Children should be accompanied by an adult during trick-or-treating.
  • The costumes should be reflective and have some sort of visibility in the dark.
  • Children should carry a flashlight.
  • Children should stay on sidewalks and use the crosswalks to cross the street so as to be more visible to motorists.
  • Older children not accompanied by an adult should have trick-or-treating expectations and safety rules reviewed prior to going out.
  • NO property destruction or vandalism.
  • They should NOT enter the homes of people they do not know.
  • Avoid homes with a dog barking or prowling.
  • If participating in a Trunk or Treat, parking lot safety rules apply especially towards the end of the event as people are starting to drive out of the parking lot.
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