The Real Horrors of Halloween Where You Live
Halloween costumes are being planned and candy is being purchased as the night of horror approaches. When you know all the facts, it’s easy to see that the true terrors of the season aren’t on movie screens. The scariest parts of Halloween happen in our own homes and neighborhoods. Check out the following Halloween dangers for the entire family that many people overlook.
Children’s Halloween Hazards
There are many things that can put a child at risk for injury on Halloween night. The following are a few safety precautions:
- Be sure costume accessories your child carries can’t injure them or their friends.
- Although candy poisoning is rare, it’s still important to check candy and be sure there is no evidence of tampering.
- Costumes should fit well so that children don’t trip on parts that are dragging.
- Avoid giving your child a mask to wear. They usually hinder a child’s ability to see, and it could result in a painful fall.
- Don’t assume Halloween lights are safe, whether yours or someone else’s. Make sure your lights don’t have loose, bare, or frayed wires or other damage. Instruct your kids to avoid contact with any type of lighting while trick-or-treating.
- Halloween is the night when the most children are killed in traffic. Visibility is essential.
- Beware of Jack-O-Lanterns with candles inside on porches and near doorsteps. Costumes could easily catch fire, with contact.
Pets’ Halloween Perils
Pets also need to be protected from dangers associated with October 31. Various Halloween candies can be toxic to pets, plus there are other dangers pet owners may not have thought of. See the following Halloween pet perils:
- Raisins certainly aren’t the most popular treat for kids, but they are often handed out, nonetheless. Keep raisins and grapes away from dogs because they can cause a dog to experience acute kidney failure.
- Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener that kills dogs by the thousands every year, yet it is safe for humans. It is in many kinds of gum, hard candies, and mints.
- Dogs can become extremely stressed from activities involved with Halloween, from a ringing doorbell to the door constantly opening and closing. If possible, they should be kept in a cozy place away from the night’s activities.
- If dogs eat decorations such as fake spider webs and old pumpkins, they can experience serious digestive problems.
- Be careful not to leave pets unsupervised in restrictive or dangling costumes because it could cause choking.
- Chocolate can be toxic to dogs. It’s more or less dangerous, depending on the amount and kind of chocolate eaten and a dog’s weight and current health condition.
Adults’ Halloween Horrors
Countless adults get into Halloween as much as kids do, including celebrating and getting dressed in elaborate costumes. There are some dangers unique to Halloween that adults should be aware of, including the following:
- Doctors say to be very cautious about wearing special eye contacts to complement your costume. It is estimated that more than 100,000 decorative contact lenses that have not been approved by the FDA are available. Problems these contacts could cause include impaired vision, conjunctivitis, and eye infections.
- Adults often drink heavily or use drugs on Halloween, which results in many hospital visits and serious health conditions. One of the top three heaviest alcohol consumption days is Halloween, among college students.
Enjoying Halloween should always be achieved with safety as a first step. There’s no reason to spoil all the fun of the spookiest night of the year for safety’s sake. Taking recommended precautions should be good enough to prevent injury.
