Hallowe’en Safety

October is a kind of spooky month even without Hallowe’en. It is a time of barren trees and falling leaves, of wind and dark, damp nights. Hallowe’en, though spooky, is a bit of festivity in the midst of dark, chilly nights. It is an opportunity to try on new identities for young ones, in the form of witches, mermaids, or the latest Disney characters. It need not be scary in terms of health outcomes though. There are ways to make your Hallowe’en safe and a bit less scary.

Keep your trick or treating to a well-lit and well-known area. Accompany young children to the door or at least within sight. Screen the candy for safety. Check for the integrity of the wrapping to avoid the consumption of tampered-with candy. It is also helpful to travel in groups. Besides being safe, celebrating with friends allows it to be a social event! Carry a flashlight or a glow stick to illuminate your path.

Make sure that costumes are large enough to fit over a winter coat in the event of the possibility of snow and cold. Make sure that they are flame-resistant. If you are using makeup, try a small patch before Hallowe’en to check for an allergic reaction. Avoid costumes that are long or cause poor visibility or lead to tripping. Nothing is scarier than a tumble while trick or treating!

Ration candy. Even though 99% of candy is safe and not tampered with, too much of a good thing can lead to early November tummy aches. Keep the focus on healthy eating and whole foods with the Hallowe’en candy being an occasional treat.

And remember: The scariest thing for kids is a caregiver who pilfers the good stuff, so stay out of the kids’ stash!

 

 

Dr. Bhooma Bhayana is a family physician in London and the mother of two young men and proud grandmother of three! She continues to find wonder and enjoyment in family practice despite more than 30 years on the job!