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The scariest stuff on Halloween is often what you’d least expect. Instead of vampires, witches, werewolves and zombies, the true scares often come in the form of accidents or overindulgence. It’s so easy to get carried away with the fun of Halloween — so much candy, so little time — that you forget about the real dangers that are lurking out there.
To keep your Halloween revels safe instead of scary (okay, maybe a little scary!), be aware of the most common dangers on Halloween.
True Life Halloween Horrors
• Car Accidents — With people out on the roads driving to a party or to prime trick-or-treating grounds, car accidents are likely on Halloween. According to the experts*, nearly 60% of Halloween highway fatalities involve impaired drivers, so partying adults should be sure to have a designated driver. Costumed kids are also at risk, since drivers may not expect them in and on roadways, resulting in accidents.
• Wounds and stabbings — Swords and knives are often great costume additions but even toys can cause injuries from time to time. Doctors see a lot of accidental stabbings and eye wounds from these costume accessories.
• Fright Night fires and burns — Pumpkins with candles inside are a fun, decorative touch on Halloween, but they’re also a fire hazard. Costumes, shrubbery or even homes can catch fire, leading to injuries and even death.
• Allergic reactions or infections — A great costume on Halloween can involve crazy makeup, body paint glitter and contact lenses, but these things can also cause serious allergic reactions and infections. Test makeup and body paint on a section of the arm to make sure there is no reaction before going full speed into costume-land. No one should wear decorative lenses unless they’ve been fitted by an eye-care professional.
• Cuts, bruises and broken bones — Dressed in outlandish costumes and masks, many Halloween partygoers and trick-or-treaters trip, fall and hurt themselves. In fact, falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury on Halloween, according to the National Safety Council. Make sure eye openings on masks are wide enough so wearers can see clearly. Be careful of decorative high heels or wacky shoes and slippers that make it difficult to walk.
• Stomach aches and nausea – Eat dinner or a snack before hitting the town, whether you’re trick-or-treating or heading to a costume party. Overindulging in alcoholic beverages or candy can lead to sickness and vomiting, especially on an empty stomach.
Don’t let the real life scares get the best of you this Halloween. If you know what’s really lurking around the corner, you can still have a safe and happy Halloween. And if the night takes a turn for the worse and you do succumb to a true life Halloween horror, whether it’s a wound, a burn or a upset stomach, your local AFC is here to help.
Did your Halloween fun go from celebratory to scary in the blink of an eye? Share your tales of terror!
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