Keep Halloween frighteningly fun, Parkland experts say
Saturday celebration means more ghosts, goblins may be roaming neighborhoods
Ghosts, goblins, witches, superheroes and creatures of every kind will soon descend on neighborhoods across Dallas County in search of Halloween treasure.
And this year, there may be even more little monsters on the loose.
Halloween falls on a Saturday, giving children and teens of all ages more opportunities to take part in trick-or-treating, parties and neighborhood celebrations. With more people potentially out walking after dark, safety experts at Parkland Health are reminding parents, trick-or-treaters and drivers that a few simple precautions can help keep a night of scares from turning into a real-life tragedy.
“Halloween is supposed to be a little spooky, but the frightening part should be the costumes, not an injury that could have been prevented,” said Officer Darlene Griffin, Crime Prevention Coordinator with the Dallas County Hospital District Police Department. “With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, drivers should expect to see more children, teenagers and families walking through neighborhoods. Slow down, put away distractions and assume that a child may step into the street when you least expect it.”
That warning is especially important on Halloween. Safe Kids Worldwide reports that children are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a vehicle on Halloween than on other days of the year.
Griffin recommends that trick-or-treaters make themselves as visible as possible. Flashlights and glow sticks can help illuminate the way, while reflective tape or stickers on costumes and treat bags can make children easier for motorists to see. Masks that interfere with vision should be avoided, and costumes should fit properly to reduce the risk of trips and falls.
Parents should accompany younger children and remind older trick-or-treaters to stay in groups, remain in familiar neighborhoods, visit only homes with the porch light on, well-lit areas and cross streets at corners or crosswalks. Everyone, including adults, should put down their phones and pay attention when crossing streets.
Drivers also need to be on the lookout for unexpected Halloween surprises.
“Children are excited, they may be wearing dark costumes and they aren’t always thinking about traffic when they see the next house with a porch light on,” Griffin said. “Drive slowly through neighborhoods, watch carefully when backing out of driveways and be prepared to stop. No piece of candy is worth a tragedy.”
While glow sticks and glow jewelry can make trick-or-treaters more visible, they are also among the Halloween-related products that prompt calls to poison centers.
“Glow sticks are great for helping children be seen, but they aren’t meant to be chewed,” said Lizbeth Petty, MPH, Public Health Education and Outreach Manager of the North Texas Poison Center, housed at Parkland Memorial Hospital. “Children sometimes bite through them and get the liquid in their mouth or eyes. The good news is that glow stick liquid is considered minimally toxic, but it can cause irritation and it tastes terrible.”
If glow stick liquid gets in the mouth, rinse the mouth and drink some water. If it gets in the eyes, immediately rinse them with plenty of room-temperature water for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Parents can then contact the poison center for additional guidance.
Costume makeup can create another Halloween fright if the wrong products are used. Petty recommends using cosmetics specifically intended for the face and skin and following package directions. Parents may also want to test makeup on a small area of skin before Halloween to check for irritation. Masks that block peripheral vision can create a pedestrian hazard, making properly applied face paint a safer option in many cases.
After the night’s haul makes it home, parents should inspect treats before children dig into their candy stash. Look for wrappers that are torn, punctured, discolored or already open, and discard anything that looks suspicious. Homemade treats should only be accepted from people the family knows and trusts.
“When in doubt, throw it out,” Petty said. “And if you have a question about something your child may have eaten or been exposed to, don’t guess. Poison specialists are available around the clock to help.”
Petty also reminds parents and caregivers to keep cannabis products, particularly edible products such as gummies and candies, safely stored up and away from children. The North Texas Poison Center has seen an increase in calls involving children exposed to edible cannabis products, which can be especially concerning around Halloween when candy and other treats are plentiful.
“Edible cannabis products can look very similar to candy or gummies that children are used to eating,” Petty said. “Keep these products in their original packaging, store them securely out of sight and reach of children, and never leave them where they could be mistaken for a Halloween treat.”
There is one more member of the family who may be tempted by the Halloween bounty: the four-legged kind. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs and cats, so candy should be kept well out of pets’ reach.
Parkland experts offer these additional tricks for a safe Halloween treat:
- Be seen: Carry flashlights or glow sticks and add reflective tape or stickers to costumes and treat bags.
- Walk safely: Use sidewalks whenever possible and cross streets at corners or designated crosswalks. Never dart between parked vehicles.
- Keep little monsters close: Children younger than 12 should trick-or-treat with an adult.
- Travel in packs: Older children and teens should stay together and stick to familiar, well-lit areas.
- Put the phone away: Trick-or-treaters and drivers alike should keep their eyes on their surroundings, not their screens.
- Drive like a vampire is chasing you – slowly: Reduce speed in residential areas and watch closely for children entering the roadway.
- Choose costumes carefully: Avoid costumes that drag on the ground or restrict vision and consider face paint instead of masks.
- Check the loot: Inspect candy and treats before anyone eats them and discard anything that is open or looks suspicious.
- Protect your pets: Keep chocolate and other Halloween treats where dogs and cats cannot reach them.
For a possible poisoning, call the North Texas Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. Poison specialists are available free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For information about services available at Parkland, visit www.parklandhealth.org.
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