Keep your Ghosts and Goblins Safe

Thursday, October 26, 2006

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Halloween may be one of the most dangerous nights of the year for young children, due to increased occurrences of pedestrian injuries, falls and burns associated with the festivities for this frightful holiday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that children are four times more likely to be struck by a vehicle on Halloween than on any other night. According to the National Safety Council, falls are the leading cause of accidental injury on Halloween.

By taking a few simple precautions, parents can rest assured that this Halloween will be filled with more treats than tricks. MayoClinic.com offers some simple, common-sense tips to help keep the little ghouls and goblins safe this Halloween.

Trick or Treat

The promise of Halloween candy may leave stars in your child's eyes. But safety still rules.

• Get in on the fun. Accompany trick-or-treaters younger than age 12. Pin a piece of paper with your child's name, address and phone number inside your child's pocket in case you get separated. Encourage older kids to trick-or-treat with a group of friends, parents or older siblings. Make sure someone in the group carries a flashlight with fresh batteries.
  
• Stay close to home. Don't allow your child to go door to door in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
  
• Set ground rules. If your child will be trick-or-treating without you, establish a route and set a curfew. Review safety rules, including staying with the group, walking only on the sidewalk, approaching only clearly lit homes and never going inside a home. You may want to give your child a cell phone for the evening should he or she need to contact you.

• Inspect the treats carefully. Don't let your child snack while he or she is trick-or-treating. Inspect the treats first - and discard anything that's not sealed, has torn packaging or looks questionable. If you have young children, weed out gum, peanuts, hard candies and other choking hazards.
  
• Ration the loot. If your child collects gobs of goodies, dole out a few pieces at a time and save the rest. Most candy remains fresh for at least several months. You may even ask if your child if he or she would like to swap some - or all - of the candy for something else, such as a special toy, book or outing.
  

For more tips to ensure a safe, fun and happy Halloween for your kids and others visit MayoClinic.com (www.mayoclinic.com/health/halloween-safety, link opens in new window).

MayoClinic.com is an award-winning health information site that attracts about 5 million visitors a month and has been recognized for its excellence and trustworthiness by a leading consumer rating Web site. MayoClinic.com is owned by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

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