Trick-or-Treat Safety
Courtney Carter
/ Categories: WELLNESS, 2024

Trick-or-Treat Safety

As you ready your little ghouls and goblins for trick-or-treating, it’s important to review basic safety rules to help ensure their holiday is scary in the best possible kind of ways.

Here’s a terrifying Halloween fact: Two times as many child pedestrians die on Halloween compared to other days. Thanks to a too-often deadly combination of being out after dark and wearing vision-limiting costumes, what should be a fun evening of mischief and merriment, Halloween can quickly become an actual nightmare.

However, by taking a few simple precautions and following practices, trick-or-treaters and their escorts can safely navigate their way home with plenty of candy in tow.

Here’s where to start:

COSTUMES

Make sure costumes, wigs and accessories are all fire-resistant.

Make sure costumes and footwear don’t create built-in tripping hazards.

Attach reflective tape to the sides, front and back of costumes and bags or use glow sticks to keep trick-or-treaters visible after dark.

If possible, use make-up instead of masks, which can limit visibility. Be sure to test make up on a small area of skin before applying to a child’s face and remove all makeup before bed to prevent skin and/or eye irritation.

TRICK-OR-TREATING

Always accompany young children around the neighborhood. Older trick-or-treaters should only venture out in the company of at least one other.

Caution children against entering homes or cars for treats.

Only cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.

Keep to sidewalks and designated pathways. If there aren’t sidewalks, walk facing traffic and as far off the road as possible.

Encourage children to walk and not run between houses.

Plan your route to keep road crossings to a minimum.

Only go to homes where a porch light is on.

Keep your eyes on the road and not on phones or other electronic devices.

TREAT EATING 

Do not allow children to eat treats before they get home where you can inspect candy.

Do not allow children to eat anything that is not commercially wrapped or any treats with torn or damaged wrappers, including pinholes. Any treats that appear unusual or discolored or suspicious in any way should be thrown out.

If you have young children, remove any small candies, including hard candy, peanuts, or gum, as they may present a choking hazard.

If your child has a food allergy, be sure to read all labels carefully to make sure allergens aren’t present.

DRIVING SAFETY

Drive with your headlights on, even before dusk.

Be alert for kids, especially at intersections, medians and on curbs

If you’re transporting trick-or-treaters, make sure they’re buckled up appropriately in a car seat or with a seat belt each time they get in the car.

If a costume makes it difficult to buckle a car seat or belt correctly, remove the costume or problematic portion of the costume each time they get in the car.

Try to park in spot where you do not need to back up.

Enter and exit driveways, parking spots and side streets with extreme caution.

By being cautious and mindful of safety, you can make ensure Halloween is a treat for all.

Jaclyn Lozier, MD, FAAP, is the Chair of Pediatrics, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center and the Medical Director, SVMC Pediatrics.

Print
504

Theme picker


 

 

 

Six Questions with the Medical Director of SVMC Orthopedics

Dr. Michaela Schneiderbauer, medical director of orthopedics and orthopedic surgeon, answers six questions about getting orthopedic care right now.

1. What types of patients are you able to treat right now?

We are happy to see patients with all sorts of conditions returning to the practice for care. Patients have heard that the Governor has lifted restrictions for elective procedures, and they are ready to investigate their options for joint pain relief. Plus, the weather is getting nice again, so people are active outside. We've seen an increase in injuries related to outdoor activity, too.


2. Are you seeing patients remotely via telemedicine?

Yes. We offer telemedicine, and we use it a lot. Of course, there are limitations for those that need an X-ray or a physical exam. But telemedicine is a great option for initial visits when we need to collect patients' health history and for follow-ups.


3. How has care in the office changed over the past several months?

Patients will notice that we have gone beyond all of the Centers for Disease Control and Vermont Department of Health recommendations for office visits. All of our staff are wearing masks and shields or goggles, and patients are expected to wear a cloth face covering when they come in. In addition, we are making efforts to limit the number of people in our waiting rooms and office at any one time. For example, part of the check-in process now happens on the phone, instead of in person.


4. How is preparing for a surgery and recovering from a surgery different since COVID-19 became a concern?

Like for office visits, our pre-surgery processes have all been ramped up well beyond the state and national recommendations designed to decrease risk of contracting COVID-19. A few days before the surgery, we test patients for COVID-19 and ask them to self-quarantine until their procedure. The patient arrives to the hospital in their own cloth face covering. Visitors are limited. After the procedure, we provide patients with an app that allows them to note their temperature and any type of respiratory symptoms for a few weeks. If any of the information falls outside the norm, a nurse gives the patient a call. These are all examples of ways we are going beyond our very high infection-prevention standards to ensure safety for patients, their families, and our staff.


5. What would you like to share with people who postponed a joint replacement or other orthopedic care because of COVID-19?

Here in Vermont cases of COVID-19 cases have been relatively low. The Governor has given his approval by lifting restrictions for elective procedures, even those requiring an overnight hospital stay. SVMC started with an exceptionally low rate of hospital-acquired infections and added many extra precautions on top of that. We have the attitude that it is definitely safe to resume care both surgeries and other types of orthopedic care.


6. What are the greatest risks and rewards related to having orthopedic care now?

From our position as one of the safest hospitals in one of the safest states, the risks of contracting COVID-19 and other illnesses during a procedure or other care are very low. Many patients know this. They are coming in for their procedures and joint replacements. Many of them will recover and be active again in time to really enjoy this summer. That’s our goal: to help every patient resolve their orthopedic issues so that they can get back to doing the things they love.

Theme picker


Theme picker


Theme picker


Our Services

PARTNERSHIP IS POWERFUL MEDICINE

A commitment to excellence and a patient-centered approach sets Southwestern Vermont Health Care apart.

 Cancer Care
 Orthopedics
 Emergency
 Maternity
 Primary Care
 ExpressCare
 Cardiology
 Rehab & Residential Care
View All Services

Theme picker

Theme picker

Theme picker

Theme picker

Theme picker