Be Careful and Injury-Free This Halloween
Halloween’s here and our little ghosts, witches, goblins and superheroes tonight will be parading the streets, malls and parks in their costumes with one goal in mind – candy. Well, Halloween after all, is mostly about costumes and candy. But the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a federal safety agency, warns that costumes, candy and decorations, while fun, can also cause injuries if not properly checked and used.
According to the federal agency, the most serious Halloween-related injuries relate to burns from flammable costumes and decorations. Candles and open flames in Jack O’ Lanterns are a leading cause of such injuries, the CPSC has found. The biggest danger is in home-made costumes because they are usually not made with flame-resistant material such as nylon or polyester. Children could also get nicked by sharp objects attached to masks or costumes.
Here are some useful tips for the holiday based on the CPSC’s suggestions:
• Buy or make costumes that are visible to motorists. Wearing reflective or glow-in-the dark tapes is not a bad idea. As for masks, make sure kids can see and breathe through them
• Costumes should not be too long so children don’t trip and fall. Trick-or-treaters should also carry flashlights to avoid getting hurt.
• Candy should not be eaten without first being examined by an adult
• Keep flammable materials away from Jack O’Lanterns
• Don't overload extension cords.
Here are some other resources with information about Halloween safety:
Children’s Safety Zone
Los Angeles Fire Department
Halloween Online
The American Red Cross
Keep Kids Healthy
Or to play the Halloween Safety Game, click here.
Have a safe, happy and injury-free Halloween!
