Round Rock trauma specialist offers tips on making Halloween safe
Fall festivities including costume parties, pumpkin decorating and trick-or-treating are lots of fun, but can pose safety risks if you’re not cautious. Unfortunately, few plan for safety and sometimes injuries occur.
Common injuries of this season include severe cuts from pumpkin-carving and lacerations to limbs from falls, as costumes can impair vision or cause tripping. The most severe injuries occur when drivers are distracted or unable to see a trick-or-treater in the neighborhood, resulting in a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle.
With increased safety concerns, the Level II Trauma Center at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center recommends extra precautions to prevent injuries and help ensure a safe Halloween.
Decorate with care
Parents should supervise children while carving pumpkins. Be sure children use pumpkin carving kits — or knives specifically designed for carving — to avoid injury. Younger children can use paint, markers and other decorations that do not have sharp edges.
If you plan to include lighting in your decorations, avoid using open flames. LED candles are good alternatives to traditional candles as they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. If you’re decorating with string lights, do not overload electrical outlets with too many plugs. Throw out any lights with frayed cords, as these also pose a fire hazard.
Costumes can be creative and safe
Costumes, masks and shoes should fit properly to avoid constricted movement or blocked vision, which can cause trips and falls. Choose fire-retardant costumes, if possible, and look for labels that indicate flame-resistance on any items you purchase. Additionally, avoid walking near lit candles or luminaries while in costume as a precaution.
Using hypoallergenic, non-toxic face paint is a good alternative to masks that may obscure vision. Make sure accessories like swords and knives are short, soft and flexible.
Remain cautious while trick-or-treating
If you are planning to go trick-or-treating with your family, be sure to look both ways before crossing the street and use crosswalks when available. Walk on the sidewalks with your group. If there aren’t any sidewalks, walk along the furthest edge of the road facing oncoming traffic.
As a precaution, fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags, carry a flashlight, or wear multiple glow sticks to increase visibility for drivers. Avoid costumes made of all dark material, as it is more difficult for drivers to distinguish at night. When posing for a photo, remain aware of your surroundings and stay out of the street.
If you’re driving when trick-or-treaters are on the hunt, remain extra cautious, as there will be more pedestrian traffic than usual. Do not text and drive, and do not speed in neighborhoods.
Be responsible when celebrating
If your Halloween celebrations include alcohol, have a plan in place to get home safely before you consume any alcoholic beverages. It’s never OK to drink and drive. Even one or two drinks can impair your judgment and slow your motor skills. Buzzed driving is drunken driving.
Never leave your drink unattended and don’t accept drinks from strangers. Stay near your friends and family when in an unfamiliar setting. If you do need to leave your group, maintain communication so someone always knows your whereabouts.
Prevent any unplanned scares by following these tips so you can make safety a priority with your loved ones this Halloween.
Kristen Hullum, MSN, RN, is the trauma injury prevention coordinator at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Round Rock trauma specialist Hullum offers tips on making Halloween safe
