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Halloween Safety Tips from Riley Hospital for Children
10/27/2009
INDIANAPOLIS – As children, we anticipate Halloween - the night of candy, costumes and trick or treating - with great excitement. These are all part of the magic that makes this a fun holiday for children, but Riley Hospital for Children wants to ensure Halloween is both fun AND safe.
"Parents and children can follow some very simple rules that will help keep them safe," said Tres Scherer, MD, director of Trauma Services, Riley Hospital. "Simple things such as selecting a costume, beard or wig that is made of materials that do not burn; wearing makeup instead of a mask, because masks often impair vision and hearing; and always making sure children are accompanied by an adult while trick or treating."
Riley Hospital for Children also offers these additional safety tips:
- Avoid wearing a long or baggy costume that may cause a trip or fall.
- Do not wear a costume that ties around the neck.
- Wear a costume that can be easily seen – one with bright colors or add reflective tape/material.
- Trick or treat in the early evening hours. Only approach well-lit homes and do not go inside.
- Do not cut across lawns while trick or treating - tripping hazards cannot be seen in the dark.
- Pin a slip of paper with your child's name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case he/she gets separated from the group.
- Neighborhoods should consider holding Halloween parties or get-togethers to keep children and teens in a safer environment.
"Children should also eat dinner or a snack before going trick or treating so they won't get tempted to eat sweets while collecting them," said Robert Collins, MD, medical director of Emergency Services, Riley Hospital. "It is important for parents to inspect all candy to ensure each piece is an individually wrapped, store-bought treat before allowing their children to sample any. Candy in which the wrapper has been opened or ripped should be immediately thrown away."
CONTACT:
Margie Smith-Simmons
317.962.4085
msmithsi@clarian.org
About Riley Hospital for Children As one of the nation's leading pediatric hospitals and Indiana's first and only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, Riley Hospital for Children, a part of Clarian Health, has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families for 85 years. Each year, Riley Hospital and Riley Hospital at Clarian North serve over 215,000 inpatients and outpatients from across Indiana, the nation and the world. Riley Hospital's partnership with Clarian Health, and its strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine, makes it the only comprehensive clinical resource for Indiana's children and the premiere source for health-related information for their parents. From simple care associated with the health and wellness of children and less complex specialty care to the most critically-ill and medically complex cases, Riley Hospital for Children is a national leader. Clarian Health operates the Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children campuses as a single hospital under Indiana law. Visit Riley Hospital for Children for more information.
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