ER Doc Offers Suggestions for a Safe Halloween

This weekend, streets will be filled with trick-or-treaters going door to door looking for treasure. There is a door most parents would like to keep their kids away from, however: the one to the hospital emergency room.

All Children’s Hospital emergency physician Patrick Mularoni said the ER there is usually pretty quiet on Halloween. And when he does see patients, they often have traumatic injuries.

“A lot of children’s costumes include spears or knives or things like that and children will get poked in the eyes with those things when they’re playing or fighting,” Mularoni said. “We do see kids who have falls and hurt their arms or legs. And sometimes we’ll even see kids who eat too much candy and come in with a bellyache.”

Mularoni said the risk of kids being hit by a car is also much higher on Halloween and so they are prepared for those patients, too.

Mularoni offered a series of suggestions for parents and children to stay safe on Halloween:

• Always trick-or-treat with an adult until at least age 10.
• Only trick-or-treat in familiar neighborhoods that are well-lit.
• Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
• Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
• Wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes to prevent trips and falls.
• Carry a flashlight or glow stick to increase visibility to drivers.
• Wear face paint and makeup. A mask can restrict a child’s vision.

All Children’s Hospital also suggests drivers take extra care on Halloween:

• Be especially alert in residential neighborhoods.
• Drive more slowly and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic on and near the road.
• Take extra time to actively look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
• Remember that children are excited on this night and may move in unpredictable ways.

More here, here, and here on Halloween safety this weekend.