We all know what fun Halloween brings: costumes, trick-or-treating, and family-friendly events like the Downtown Spooktacular Trick-or-Treating. However, the holiday can also increase the risk of minor injuries, as thousands of people seek emergency medical care each year for Halloween-related injuries. Fortunately, many of these incidents can be avoided by following a few simple safety precautions, which we’ll cover in this blog.
However, if an unexpected injury still occurs, AFC Urgent Care Lenoir can help. Our clinic welcomes walk-ins on Halloween with extending evening hours, making it convenient to get the treatment you need.
Make Costume Safety Part of Your Halloween Plans
When choosing a Halloween costume, safety considerations may fall short to costumes that are funny, creative, or entertaining. However, costumes should also fit properly, allow for easy movement, and help reduce potential hazards so kids do not trip or fall and suffer minor injuries.
As you and your family selects Halloween costumes this year, consider these precautions and recommendations from the National Safety Council:
- Choose costumes and shoes that fit properly. Avoid long trains, oversized sleeves, and excessive fabric that could cause children or adults to trip and fall.
- Look for flame-resistant materials. Costumes, wigs, and accessories can catch fire when exposed to candles or other heat sources. When possible, select flame-resistant products and keep any non-flame-resistant materials away from open flames.
- Increase visibility after dark. Add reflective tape to costumes, shoes, bags, or candy buckets so children are easier for drivers to see. Flashlights, glow sticks, and glow-in-the-dark candy buckets can provide additional visibility.
- Be cautious with Halloween masks. Masks can obstruct vision and increase the risk of trips and falls. Nontoxic Halloween makeup may be a safer alternative, but test it on a small area of skin before applying it completely. Remove all makeup before bed to help prevent skin and eye irritation.
If Halloween makeup results in a rash, irritation, or another skin concern, AFC Urgent Care Lenoir can evaluate and treat many dermatology issues. Our medical providers can recommend appropriate treatment, offer immediate relief, and determine whether follow-up with a dermatologist is necessary.
Stay Visible and Alert While Trick-or-Treating
Trick-or-treating after dark requires extra attention to pedestrian safety. According to research, pedestrian fatality risk is 43% higher on Halloween night compared with other comparable evenings.
Reflective clothing and accessories can help, but consider giving children flashlights, glow sticks, or another light source as well. Staying together as a group can also make trick-or-treaters more visible to passing drivers. Below are a few additional tips to keep in mind when trick-or-treating in the dark:
- Stick to sidewalks whenever possible. If there is no sidewalk, walk along the side of the road facing oncoming traffic.
- Use designated crosswalks. Follow traffic signals and pedestrian signs, and avoid crossing between parked vehicles.
- Confirm that drivers see you before crossing. Make sure approaching vehicles have completely stopped before entering the road.
- Stay focused on your surroundings. Encourage children to watch where they are walking and avoid distractions from phones or other electronic devices.
Inspect Halloween Candy Before Enjoying It
Halloween is the biggest candy-selling holiday of the year, with kids returning home with buckets filled with sweet treats. Before they eat their candy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends taking several precautions:
- Accept only properly packaged treats. Remind children not to eat candy or other food that is not commercially packaged and securely sealed.
- Wait until you get home to eat candy. Halloween neighborhoods can be dark and distracting, making it difficult to inspect treats properly. Waiting until you’re home allows you to examine each item under better lighting.
- Check for signs of tampering. Examine candy and wrappers for unusual discoloration, an abnormal appearance, tears, or small holes. Discard anything that appears damaged or suspicious.
- Give children a snack before trick-or-treating. A meal or snack before heading out can help prevent children from becoming overly hungry and wanting to eat candy while they’re still walking around the neighborhood.
Create a Safer Environment at Home
Halloween decorations can introduce additional safety concerns around the home. From 2020 through 2024, Halloween decorations were responsible for an estimated 835 home structure fires each year. Nearly half of those fires occurred because decorations were placed too close to heat sources, such as candles or hot equipment.
When decorating, keep costumes, decorations, and other flammable materials away from open flames and other sources of heat. You can also reduce fire risks by replacing traditional candles with LED alternatives.
Before trick-or-treaters arrive, take a few additional steps to make your home safer:
- Park vehicles in the driveway when possible. This leaves more room on the street for pedestrians and helps keep neighborhood roads clear.
- Keep exits and walkways clear. Make sure decorations do not block doors, windows, or emergency exits, and confirm that smoke alarms are working properly.
- Light outdoor areas adequately. A well-lit yard, walkway, and entrance can help trick-or-treaters safely approach your home.
- Clear leaves and debris from walkways. Wet leaves can become slippery and create a significant trip hazard, particularly for children wearing costumes that restrict movement.
- Keep pets safely contained. Costumes, unfamiliar visitors, and repeated doorbell ringing can frighten even normally calm pets. Keeping them separated from trick-or-treaters can help prevent unexpected reactions or injuries.
If you experience a minor burn from a Halloween decoration or candle, you may not need to visit the Emergency Room. AFC Urgent Care Lenoir can evaluate minor burns, provide appropriate treatment, and offer guidance to help relieve discomfort and support proper healing.
Halloween Injury Treatment at AFC Urgent Care Lenoir
Even with careful planning and safety precautions, injuries can still happen during Halloween. If your family’s Halloween festivities result in an unexpected injury, AFC Urgent Care Lenoir, NC, provides convenient, same-day walk-in care for many minor injuries, skin rashes, minor burns, and other common Halloween-related injuries.
Our clinic is open on Halloween with evening hours, making it easier to receive medical attention when an unexpected injury occurs. Walk in or pre-register for prompt, quality, and compassionate care at AFC Urgent Care Lenoir.