Ask the Doctor: Halloween safety

(WWLP) - Halloween may be a magical carefree time for children, but for parents there are safety issues to face during this old pagan holiday.22News spoke with Pediatrician Dr. Michael Posner about how to keep kids safe.

1.) What kinds of precautions should parents and homeowners hoping for evening visitors be thinking about?
Response: The American Academy of Pediatrics has compiled a great list of tips for participants and eager onlookers alike. [I will post the website address on the WWLP web page.] For parents, the main issues are to keep the children safe on their travels. The tips I liked were to recommend traveling in a group and to follow a pre-set route. Getting lost or separated in the dark is not a pleasant memory. Using reflective tape as part of a costume or to decorate the bags for the treats is an easy way to improve visibility for street crossing. Flashlights allow kids to see and be seen. Washable make-up instead of masks helps the tricksters see better, and makes for better photographs.

2.) What about for home-owners?
Response: Good lighting and picked up sidewalks are always a good idea, and it is really about time to roll up those hoses anyway. Sweeping up wet leaves from steps is also a good idea. As for jack-o-lanterns, keep the lit ones inside to avoid temptation, and use votive candles if you don’t want to go electric. Be sure to set the pumpkins on a sturdy table, well away from curtains. Think about non-food treats, such as temporary tattoos, lip balm, stickers, or hair scrunchies. There was an oral surgeon in our town who gave out toothbrushes.

3.) And finally, what to do with all the candy?
Response: First feed the kids a good meal before they go out. A well-fed vampire does less snacking later. When the crew staggers home, sort through the bags and eliminate the really bad stuff, including the choking hazards for the little ones. Tampering is really quite rare, but keep your eyes open. Then divvy up the rest for the next several days. Parents should try hard not to snitch- it doesn’t taste nearly as good as you may remember.

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