It’s hard to believe it’s Halloween already. Soon it will be Thanksgiving, Christmas, then the New Year.
I wonder if I’ll get any trick or treaters? Recently, I’ve only been getting a few.
While Halloween is a fun day, it can also be a time when things can go wrong, so keep these safety precautions in mind.
Trick or treaters who are feeling sick should stay home to avoid sharing anything contagions. People handing out treats should wash their hands frequently.
Other concerns are unsafe costumes, eating too many sweets, carving pumpkins, and setting up holiday decorations.
Here are additional Halloween safety tips offered by health and safety specialists:
- Wear costumes with “flame resistant” on the label. If you make a DIY costume, use flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon.
- Wear bright, reflective costumes or add strips of reflective tape so you’ll be more visible when crossing streets.
- Wear makeup and hats rather than costume masks that can obscure your vision.
- Test the makeup you plan to use at least 24 to 48 hours in advance to avoid allergic reactions.
- Don’t wear colored contact lenses that appear to change how your eyes look due to the risk of eye injury unless you have seen an eye care professional for a proper fitting and been given instructions for how to use the lenses.
When it comes to Halloween treats and sweets, the FDA offers the following nutritional and safety tips for trick-or-treaters:
- Don’t eat candy until it has been inspected at home.
- Eat a snack before heading out to avoid the temptation of nibbling on a treat before it’s been inspected.
- Check the label to ensure a food allergen isn’t present if someone in the family has a food allergy.
- Tell children not to accept – or eat – anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.
- Remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys from the Halloween bags for young children.
- Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also reminds the public to beware of Halloween holiday hazards. The CPSC estimates that an annual average of 3,200 Halloween-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments from 2019 to 2022.
Stay safe this Halloween by observing the following CPSC safety tips:
Pumpkin carving
- Leave pumpkin carving to the adults. Child helpers can grab a spoon and scoop out the inside or use a marker to trace the design.
- Use battery-operated lights or glow sticks rather than an open-flame candle when your jack-o’-lantern masterpiece is ready.
- Keep jack-o’-lanterns away from curtains, decorations, and other combustibles that could catch fire if you’re using open-flame candles.
- Never leave burning candles unattended.
Decorating
- Prevent fires by using battery-operated lights and glow sticks instead of candles.
- Pay attention to placement of decorations. To help prevent falls, remove obstacles from lawns, steps, and porches when expecting trick or treaters.
- Use the CPSC’s ladder safety tips to prevent injuries while putting up or taking down decorations.
- Use only lights, indoors or outside, that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets.
So, enjoy yourself on this spooky, scary holiday. Halloween is a popular holiday with about three-fourths of Americas planning to celebrate it and spending an estimated $13.1 billion.
