Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips

CLEVELAND – Pumpkins, black cats, spider webs and witches can only mean one thing — it’s almost Halloween!

To help keep little ghosts and goblins safe while trick-or-treating, Purva Grover, MD, emergency medicine physician with Cleveland Clinic Children’s said kids need to see clearly through their costume.

“With eye masks and the cute stuff which the kids wear with ghouls and stuff, making sure that it does not restrict their eyesight,” she advised.

Dr. Grover suggests starting out earlier when there’s still daylight and it’s easier for everyone to see.

If out after dark, she recommends lighter colored clothing or reflective costumes. Glow sticks and flashlights can make kids more visible too.

She said a costume should be easy to walk in and short enough to expose a child’s feet or toes to avoid tripping.

If you’re handing out treats and looking for alternatives to candy, Dr. Grover said to try stickers, rub-on tattoos or toys.

And if you’re offering allergen-free treats, you can put teal pumpkins out to alert parents there are goodies for kids with food allergies.

“Water, pretzels, glow sticks, bracelets, I mean the sky is the limit for all of those things. So making sure that you are able to offer them to kids who cannot get that candy. And if you are giving out that candy or you’re taking that candy, making sure that it’s safe for your kids to eat,” she said.

If your child comes home with a huge mound of candy, it should be consumed in moderation. Excess treats can be donated or frozen to be enjoyed later.