Learn How to Stay Safe on The Spookiest Night of The Year

Whether your plans include walking the neighborhood with wee ones or heading out for a night of scary-good, adult fun, it pays to a take a few moments before heading out and when returning home to ensure a safe and fun night for everyone.

Here are a few tips from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that can help you avert disaster on Halloween.

COSTUMES

• If purchasing costumes, look for ones that say “flame resistant” on the label. If you make your 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; make sure the costumes aren’t so long that you’re in danger of tripping.
• Wear makeup and hats rather than costume masks that can obscure your vision.
• Test the makeup you plan to use at least 24-48 hours in advance. Put a small amount on the arm of the person who will be wearing it. If a rash, redness, swelling, or other signs of irritation develop where the makeup was applied, that's a sign of a possible allergy.
• Before applying vibrantly colored makeup, check the FDA’s list of color additives to see if the colors are FDA approved. If they aren’t approved for their intended use, don’t use them. This is especially important for colored makeup around the eyes.
• Don’t wear decorative (colored) contact lenses to change the appearance of your eyes  unless you have seen an eye care professional for a proper fitting and been given instructions for how to use the lenses. Decorative contact lenses sold in costume stores or other retail stores without a prescription are illegal and can cause serious injury and harm. 

TREATS

• Encourage kids to eat a snack before heading out to avoid the temptation of nibbling on a treat before it has been inspected.
• Don’t eat candy until it has been inspected at home. If the packaging appears to be tampered with—any unusual appearance or discoloration to the packaging, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers—discard the candy.
• In case of a food allergy, check the label to ensure the allergen isn’t present. Tell children not to accept—or eat—anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.
• Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys from the Halloween bags.

Finally, whether you’re behind the wheel or walking about, stay alert and be cautious. A pedestrian’s risk of being hit and killed by a car on Halloween night is nearly two-times higher than any other night of the year.

Bentley Munsell, Clinical Nurse Manager, BSN, RN, CEN, is a member of the ExpressCare team at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.