Halloween is finally here and health experts warn there’s more to watch out for than just monsters on the spookiest night of the year. Doctors have taken to social media to share their top tips for staying safe on Halloween. From costumes to candy, here’s what they want parents to know before trick-or-treating tonight.
- Beware of black licorice - Family physician Dr. Jen Caudle posted a TikTok video warning of Halloween health hazards and her first tip is, “Don’t eat too much black licorice, it can actually kill you.” While eating it in small amounts is harmless, the candy contains glycyrrhizic acid, which can cause swelling, high blood pressure and deplete potassium and other electrolytes that can cause cardiac arrest, according to the New Jersey Poison Control Center.
- Check your kids’ candy bag before they eat any - This advice is nothing new, but it’s a reminder worth repeating. In the past, there have been reports of parents of trick-or-treaters finding everything from razor blades to sewing needles in their candy, but this year, there’s something else to inspect for. Last month, the DEA issued a warning to parents to be on the lookout for fentanyl - a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin - after 15-thousand fentanyl pills were found hidden in Skittles and Nerds packaging in Connecticut.
- Read candy labels BEFORE letting your kids eat it - Dr. Caudle reminds parents to check their child’s candy for any known allergies before they dig in. And Dr. Robert Singleton II reveals that reactions from candies are the third leading cause of hospitalizations on Halloween.
- Make sure costumes are safe - “Make sure your child’s costume is bright, that it’s reflective,” advises Dr. Caudle, noting that adding reflective tape to a costume helps keep kids safe in the dark. And according to Dr. Singleton, “traffic injuries” are the fifth most common reason for ER visits on Halloween and “fires” are the fourth, make sure trick-or-treaters’ costumes are flame resistant and easy to see.
- Make sure costumes fit well and that kids can see in them - Falls are the second most common reason people end up in the emergency room on Halloween, but making sure your child doesn’t trip on their costume and that their mask doesn’t obscure their vision can help you avoid the ER.
- Careful with the carving - If you haven’t already carved your jack-o-lantern, take extra care with the knife as pumpkin carving injuries are the number one reason for ER visits during Halloween.
Source: Daily Mail