Newsletter

For many households, Halloween is a most exciting day of the year, what with the fun costumes and going trick or treating around the neighbourhood? I know the mood is no different for your family especially with Halloween around the corner.

While it is fun to get to dress up, hang out and later enjoy the candy, it may not be as fun to have to nurse some wounds or, worse still, rush to the ER in the middle of the night. Kids are most likely to get hurt during the day.

Here are 5 things you can check on to make sure everyone, especially children, is safe and enjoying Halloween as much as you are:

Secure railings

How secure are the railings outside your house? The trick-or-treating children (and even accompanying adults) will need the support of your railings while climbing up or down the steps or ramp to get to your front door. It is important to check and repair any rickety section to make sure it is secure in order to prevent any accidents.

Clear walkways

The excitement of trick-ortreating is usually almost euphoric and the children may be too busy counting candy to pay close attention to where they’re going. Make sure you check through your yard and the pathways around for potential hazards like hoses, sprinklers, small stones and sticks. These could easily trip someone or get into the spokes of a wheelchair making movement difficult. If you have an irrigation (sprinkler) system, be sure to turn it off so that your lawn and all day, and walkways dry well before the trick or treaters use them.

Safe costumes

When purchasing (fabric for making) a costume for your child, ensure it is flame resistant (check the label) fabric such as nylon or polyester. Make sure the costumes fit properly and are not baggy to reduce chances of sagging and coming into contact with candles and other fire sources and also avoid tripping and falling. Check that the knife or sword included in the costume is soft with a blunt end. Include reflective tape on your child’s costume or treat bag to increase their visibility.

Masks

Masks are great, but they also end up blocking your vision. Instead of a face mask, you can use non-toxic face paint or even homemade paint for your child. Try a small area a few days earlier to confirm that there won’t be an allergic reaction of the face paint.

Safe trick-or-treating

Make sure to go through the routine with your child on what they should do if they suspect they are lost. They can also wear a GPS tracking device or a Halloween safety tattoo to make them easier to find. Remind them to maintain safety when going through the neighbourhood, like walking (not running), staying on sidewalks, and keeping away from the streets.

Here’s to a safe Halloween for you and your children!

Sunscreen: If you can’t minimize the length of time your children spend out in the sun, then invest in sunscreen with an SPF-30 or higher that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. This is best for children 6 months and older. Make sure you apply it to all areas of your child’s body. Even if it’s cloudy, keep applying the sunscreen every two hours.

Clothing: It is important that your child wears sun-protective clothing (UPF). Make sure their clothing covers most of the body and shades the face. You could also find them hats which provide shade for both the face, ears, and back of the neck.

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