Halloween brings creative costumes, neighborhood trick-or-treating, haunted houses, parties, and events such as the Trunk and Treat at New Victory Lanes. However, the combination of nighttime activities, busy streets, and costumes can also increase the chance of preventable accidents and injuries.
A few simple precautions can make an impact on your family’s safety. Choosing costumes carefully, increasing visibility after dark, checking candy before eating it, and keeping decorations safe can help your family enjoy Halloween while reducing common risks.
If an injury does happen despite your best efforts, your local AFC Urgent Care Mooresville, NC provides medical care for many minor Halloween-related injuries. Our clinic is open on Halloween, and offers walk-in care, making it easier to seek treatment when an unexpected Halloween injury occurs.
Choose Costumes With Safety in Mind
Halloween costumes are often selected for their creativity, humor, or appearance, but safety and comfort should also be considered. A costume that fits correctly and allows for easy movement can help reduce the risk of trips, falls, and other accidents.
The National Safety Council recommends the following precautions when selecting Halloween costumes:
- Choose costumes and shoes that fit properly. Avoid long trains, oversized sleeves, and excessive fabric that could cause children or adults to trip or fall. Whenever possible, select flame-resistant costumes and accessories.
- Keep costumes away from heat sources. Costumes, wigs, and accessories can catch fire when exposed to candles or other heat sources. Keep 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 Halloween buckets can provide additional visibility.
- Use caution with masks. Masks can obstruct vision and increase the risk of slips, trips, and falls. Consider nontoxic Halloween makeup instead. Test makeup on a small area of skin first and remove it before bed to help prevent skin and eye irritation.
If Halloween makeup causes a rash or irritation, AFC Urgent Care Mooresville can evaluate and treat many dermatology issues. Our medical providers can recommend appropriate treatment for immediate relief or 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. Research has found that pedestrian fatality risk is 43% higher on Halloween night compared with other evenings. Reflective clothing and accessories can help children remain visible, but consider giving them flashlights, glow sticks, or another light source as well. Staying together as a group can also make trick-or-treaters easier for drivers to see.
Additionally, keep these pedestrian safety tips in mind:
- Use sidewalks whenever possible. If there is no sidewalk, walk along the side of the road facing oncoming traffic.
- Cross at designated crosswalks. Follow traffic signals and pedestrian signs, and avoid crossing between parked vehicles.
- Make sure vehicles have stopped. Confirm that approaching drivers have seen you and come to a complete stop before crossing.
- Stay focused on your surroundings. Encourage children to watch where they are walking and avoid distractions from phones.
Inspect Halloween Candy Before Eating It
Halloween is one of the biggest candy-selling holidays of the year, with Americans purchasing nearly 600 million pounds of candy valued at roughly $4.6 billion. Before children begin eating their treats, take a few precautions to make sure everything is properly packaged and safe. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends:
- Accept only properly packaged treats. Children should not eat candy or other food that is not commercially packaged and securely wrapped.
- Wait until you get home to eat candy. Being home provides better lighting and allows you to inspect each treat carefully.
- Look for signs of tampering. Check wrappers for tears, pinholes, unusual discoloration, or other signs that something may be wrong. Throw away suspicious items.
- Have 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 walking around.
Make Your Home Safer for Halloween Trick-or-Treaters
Halloween decorations can make your home festive, but they can also create fire and fall hazards. From 2020 through 2024, Halloween decorations were responsible for an estimated 835 home structure fires each year. Nearly half of these fires occurred because decorations were placed too close to heat sources.
Keep decorations away from candles, heaters, and other sources of heat. You can also reduce fire risks by using LED candles instead of traditional candles.
Before trick-or-treaters arrive, take these additional precautions:
- Park vehicles in the driveway when possible. This leaves more room on the road for pedestrians and other vehicles.
- Keep exits and walkways clear. Decorations should not block doors, windows, or emergency exits. Make sure smoke alarms are working properly.
- Light outdoor areas. A well-lit yard, walkway, and entrance can make it easier for trick-or-treaters to approach your home safely.
- Clear leaves and debris. Wet leaves can become slippery and increase the risk of falls, especially for children wearing costumes that restrict movement.
- Keep pets safely contained. Costumes and visitors can frighten even the calmest pets and lead to unexpected reactions.
If you do suffer a minor burn from Halloween decorations or candles, you may think an visit to the Emergency Room is needed. However, AFC Urgent Care Mooresville can evaluate minor burns, provide appropriate treatment, and offer guidance to help relieve discomfort and support proper healing.
Halloween Injury Care at AFC Urgent Care Mooresville
Halloween safety starts with preparation, but families cannot always prevent every accident. A trip or fall can happen during trick-or-treating, a minor burn can occur while decorating, or Halloween makeup can cause unexpected skin irritation. When these situations arise, timely medical evaluation can help you determine the appropriate next steps.
AFC Urgent Care Mooresville provides same-day walk-in care for many minor injuries, rashes, burns, and other common Halloween-related concerns. Our medical providers can evaluate your injury, provide appropriate treatment, and let you know if additional care is recommended.
Walk in or pre-register your appointment!