Mercy Health gives tips to keep your family safe this Halloween

Mercy Health is offering tips and tricks to keep you and your family safe this Halloween.

“Taking a few extra moments to recognize and address potential hazards can prevent injuries and ensure an evening of family fun,” said Dr. Bushra Siddiqui, primary care physician, Mercy Health — Sheffield Primary Care.

“One of the most important things that you can do to make trick-or-treating safer for you and your child is to increase visibility,” Dr. Siddiqui adds. “Attaching reflective tape to their costume, carrying a flashlight or wearing a glowstick are simple solutions to significantly reduce risks and still enjoy some safe, spooky fun.” 

Other tips include:

Trick-or-Treating Safety

• Make sure to stick to a well-lit path like sidewalks when going from house to house.
• Always accompany children under 11 when trick-or-treating and make sure to identify a plan for older kids on curfew and an agreed route to go on throughout their Halloween night.
• Remind children to never go into a stranger’s car or their home.
• Avoid dark colored costumes and wear a glow stick or reflective tape to make sure your child is seen in the dark.
• Make sure costumes are not too long to avoid tripping, as well as opting to wear hats or masks instead of masks which can obscure your child’s vision.
• Remember to wash all makeup off at the end of the night and test out any makeup that will be used on your child’s face to avoid an allergic reaction.

Halloween Decoration Safety

• Light jack-o-lanterns with LED lights or fake candles instead of using an open flame to avoid fires.
• Keep corn stalks or other house decorations that might be flammable away from light bulbs or open flames if using any sort of candle since they are highly combustible.
• Make sure all decorations are placed in a way that does not cause a potential tripping hazard such as placing extension cords away from the walkway, making sure walkways are clearly lit and making sure fog or other inflatable decorations are secured and away from the door.

Candy and Treat Safety

• Remind kids with food allergies to wait to eat any candy until returning home where you can inspect any candy or baked goods for allergens.
• Remove any choking hazards collected during the night for younger trick-or-treaters.
• Make sure all candy or treats collected during the night are wrapped and sealed so they are not tampered with.