By Phil Schafer, PA-C, Grace Cottage Hospital Emergency Dept.
Halloween can be a very fun and festive occasion. It’s a time for creative decorating, costumes, parties, and of course, Trick-or-Treating. Unfortunately, Halloween can come with injuries and illness that can ruin the fun. While we can’t offer useful tips for an encounter with the Headless Horseman, a few useful “tricks” can lessen the chance of you or a loved one suffering one of these common mishaps!
For starters, costumes and their components are a major cause of injuries. Even in the hands of professionals, costumes can be hazardous. According to OSHA, in 2005, Walt Disney World reported almost 300 costume-related injuries.
The head or face portion of costumes often limit the wearers’ field of view, making them susceptible to running into things or other people, or causing them to trip on obstacles and stairs. Costumes that are too long or too loose can cause the wearer to trip and fall, leading to head or limb injuries.
Halloween costume makeup can also cause injury or illness. Often, these makeups are made of heavy oils or irritants that can lead to itchy rashes, swollen lips, and eyelids, or clogged pores leading to blackheads. You can reduce these dangers by limiting the time the product is on your skin. Make sure to remove the makeup and cleanse your skin thoroughly before going to bed.
Look for makeups that are hypoallergenic and non-toxic. If you have sensitive skin, it might be worth it to buy professional grade theater makeup. Of special note, many costume makeups and fake skin are made of Latex, to which some people are very allergic. Make sure to read the product description for this major ingredient if you or your child are known to have a Latex sensitivity.
Halloween is a wonderful time for trying on the personae of your alter-ego. Have you always wanted to be a clown? A scary witch? A Viking? A zombie? Superman?
If a superhero or warrior costume just isn’t complete without a prop, such as a sword, spear, or bow and arrow, make sure children play safely to avoid injuries. Many people are injured each year from being struck by imitation weapons, with eye injuries being particularly common.
Another part of the costume to consider are decorative contact lenses that allow a wearer to change the color and look of their eyes. These accessories can come in many fun and spooky designs! However, many of these eye coverings can block the flow of oxygen to the surface of the eye, cause scratches or ulcers on the eyes, or even introduce bacterial infections. In some cases, permanent injuries and blindness have occurred. If changing the look of your eyes is essential to your costume, then look for FDA-approved cosplay and costume contact lenses.
Candy is, of course, an important part of Halloween, especially for children. Kids are thrilled to come home on Halloween night with a treasure bag full of candy – but they may need help moderating their intake. Eating too much candy at one sitting can, of course, lead to stomach upset, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Halloween also often exposes children to treats they wouldn’t otherwise eat. This can lead to allergic reactions or sensitivities. Nuts, eggs, milk, and wheat are among the most common allergy-inducing ingredients. It’s best to limit the amount and types of candies your children consume and to read the ingredients carefully.
If you or your children have a reaction to candy or have a suspected poisoning, you can call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 for advice.
Also, if you have dental fillings, be extra wary of sticky candy that can dislodge fillings – as the American Dental Association says, “Be picky, if it’s sticky.”
Finally, remember that candy is often dangerous to our pets. Raisins, chocolate, and sugar substitutes are particularly dangerous. If your pet gets into your candy or something that might be harmful, you can contact the Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
The time-honored tradition of carving pumpkins is so much fun! What face will you carve this year? Just remember, pumpkin carving can lead to injuries if done with improper tools and lack of supervision of children. Kitchen knives are often too long or unnecessarily sharp and can lead to lacerations and puncture wounds of the hands and fingers. There are inexpensive pumpkin carving tool kits available that can reduce the chance that you or your children will be injured.
Halloween decorations often involve candles. Their flickering lights add to the “spooky” atmosphere. But candles can lead to fires in the home or can catch a costume on fire. Using LED lights can be a safe alternative. Also, when decorating, avoid using long or low-quality extension cords that can lead to unnecessary fires. Avoid putting cords and decorations in common walkways, so friends and guests don’t trip over them and fall down.
Traffic safety is also a major concern on Halloween. Trick-or-treating naturally brings more people out walking after dark, and the incidence of children being struck by vehicles increases dramatically on this holiday. Most of these collisions occur at sites other than a crosswalk, and sunset is one of the most dangerous times due to reduced visibility of drivers. Make sure that you and your children use flashlights and reflective accessories to increase visibility to drivers, and always cross the street at a crosswalk.
Last, Halloween often involves parties and can lead to an increase in impaired drivers and alcohol-and-drug-related injuries and fatalities. Make sure you and your friends pre-arrange for safe and sober transportation to and from your planned festivities.
Now, don’t let these words of caution make you scared to have fun! With these proactive “tricks,” your Halloween can be a real treat!
