'The Doctors' provide tips for a safe Halloween
by jmaloni
Thu, Oct 21st 2010 04:00 pm
On Tuesday,
Oct. 26, the hosts of The Emmy Award-winning syndicated series "The Doctors"
will reveal important safety tips that parents need to know to ensure a safe
Halloween. In addition, Dr. Jim Sears will demonstrate that a children's
costume made with flame resistant fabric can still go up in flames.
As a
pediatrician, Sears has seen first-hand that Halloween can be dangerous for
children if parents don't follow safety guidelines in everything from costume
selection, to making sure the front yard is hazard free.
Most
importantly, Sears wants to stress that choking is more prevalent after
Halloween because young kids eat candy that is too small for them.
Therefore, learning CPR is as important to parents as inspecting candy to make
sure it is tightly wrapped in the original wrapping.
Sears has come
up with the following tips to ensure that your family has a safe Halloween.
Make sure your child's costumes are
safe:
- Makeup should be non-toxic so it doesn't cause skin irritation or rashes
- Costumes need to be fire-retardant
- Children should be able to see through masks without obstruction
- Knives or swords should be soft -- made out of cardboard or other flexible
materials
Prior to sending your kids out
trick-or-treating, they should:
- Eat a full dinner so they are not hungry and tempted to eat their candy
- Memorize their phone number in case they get lost
- Place reflective strips on their costumes so cars can easily spot them
Important rules kids should follow
on Halloween:
- Use flashlights or glow sticks
- If there is no sidewalk, walk toward oncoming cars, not in the same direction
as the cars are moving
- Don't ride a bike or wear rollerblades
- Don't enter a stranger's house
- Have a buddy system
- Don't eat any candy before returning home -- parents need to inspect the
sweets
Parents need to monitor candy intake
because:
- Sugar suppresses the immune system
- You don't want young children choking on small candies
- Make sure everyone knows CPR
Review fire safety with your child:
-
With candles and jack-o-lanterns at every turn, kids can get burned. Make
sure they know the "Stop, Drop and Roll" rule
Make
your home safe for trick-or-treaters:
- Trim bushes back from the sidewalk
- Remove flower pots kids can trip over
- Make sure your outdoor lights are working properly
- Secure animals away in the backyard