Halloween safety mistakes an ER doc won't let her kids make

It’s Halloween, the one night of the year when begging is encouraged, fear is fun, and playing dress-up is the rule of the land.

Inspired by Pagan harvest rituals, Halloween has transformed into a preeminent commercial holiday, second only to Christmas in expenditure.

However, amid the candy, costumes and revelry, there is an increased risk of injury. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 3,200 Halloween-related emergency room visits were made between 2019 and 2022.

Experts have weighed in on the major Halloween “don’ts” they have for their own kids, plus preventative measures can parents take to ensure their ghouls and ghosts stay safe on Halloween night.

Experts recommend adding a flashlight to your child’s trick-or-treat arsenal to light their way as night falls. A flashlight ensures kiddos can safely navigate dark streets and uneven terrain, reducing the risk of injury by falling or tripping.

Dr. Karen Goodman, a pediatric emergency medicine specialist at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, told TODAY.com that lanterns, which provide 360 degrees of light, are the better bet and can easily be incorporated into a creepy costume.

It’s function over fashion when it comes to Halloween masks. Just as your child must be able to see in the dark, they must also be able to see out of any spooky mask, especially in the evening when visibility is compromised.

Goodman suggests doing a mask vision check to ensure the eyeholes of the mask are in the appropriate place. If vision is limited, parents can enlarge the eye holes or suggest a different costume.

She also recommends performing this vision test in advance of trick-or-treating to avoid any potential meltdowns.

“(Children) may put the mask on right before or when they get outside and suddenly realize that they can’t see anything, but then they don’t want to take the mask off,” she explained.

In addition to checking masks for vision obstruction, Goodman recommend a practice run to test costumes for mobility — and she’s not the only pro urging caution.

Dr. Lisa Gaw, a pediatrician with Texas Children’s Urgent Care, told TODAY.com, “If it’s difficult for them to walk in the daylight, just imagine them trying to go trick-or-treating in the dark with it on.”

Keep an eye out for garb that is too long, large, or uncomfortable as it could increase the likelihood that your tot will take a tumble. Make sure they can go up and down steps without incident and don’t be afraid to make last-minute cuts and crops.

Parents should also consider investing in high-quality or handmade costumes as the polyester throw-away costumes, designed to only be worn one time, could expose kids to toxins that have been linked to cancer and could disrupt the reproductive, immune, and metabolic systems.

Many Halloween costumes call for props that can be wielded as weapons. After all, what’s a pirate without a sword or a wizard without a wand?

“Whether it’s a sword, stick, spear or wand — anything with a pointy edge, even if it’s plastic, can be hazardous,” said Goodman.

In the spirit of “getting into character,” kids may get reckless with their props, causing unintentional eye-poking or other injuries. To avoid disaster choose parents should choose pliable pointed props made from soft materials.

Parents should always opt for non-toxic and child-safe face paints. Experts note that you can check the FDA’s list of color additives to see if the colors in these paints are FDA-approved; this is especially important for any makeup intended for use around the eye area.

Experts also recommend a skin test, applying a small amount of the product to the underside of the arm to ensure there’s no irritation or allergic reaction.

A no-go for kid costumes? Novelty, colored contact lenses like those sold online and in costume stores have not been approved by the FDA for safety and effectiveness. These lenses can cause serious eye issues and infections, which could lead to permanent vision loss.

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