using their normal safety sense,” says Kerri Totty, a certified hand therapist at Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital.
RELATED: 5 Halloween Treats That Won’t Ruin Your Diet
Burns & Cuts: How To Stop Injuries
Totty deals with some of the injuries that children and their parents may receive during the days leading up to Halloween as well as on the holiday itself, such as cuts and burns related to turning a pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern.
“We see a lot of kitchen knife injuries. These can be devastating because of the structures in the hand,” Totty tells WebMD. These include tendons, nerves, and arteries. She says that major therapy is required when the tendons and nerves are severed when a child or adult uses an inappropriate knife or uses one incorrectly. Physical therapy to prevent scarring from permanently disabling a hand can last for eight to 12 weeks.
You May Also Like
“Usually these injuries happen because [people are] not paying attention to what they’re doing or they’re cutting toward themselves, or using the knife like an ice pick,” Totty says, adding that knives should be clean because the bacteria on them can cause a major infection in any cut.
For adults, the medical experts advise using sharp knives; small children should just draw the jack-o-lantern design on the outside of the pumpkin with a marker and let someone older do the cutting. Youngsters who are old enough could use knives intended for carving pumpkins.
“With my own children, I let them use the special pumpkin cutters that have the serrated edges. These work as well as anything,” says Mark Mason, MD, a plastic surgeon at Harris and also at the Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth.
#SquadGoals: 9 Halloween Costumes For The Crew
You May Also Like
Other Scary Dangers…
Safety organizations warn parents and trick-or-treaters alike to be aware of other dangers:
- The American Academy of Pediatrics says in order to avoid burns, use votive candles for pumpkins; don’t give small children things on which they could choke such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.
- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says to make sure that any costumes are labeled “flame resistant,” and be careful where you place candles and lit jack-o’-lanterns. A while ago, a 12-year-old Texas girl died of severe burns when her homemade costume brushed against a jack-o’-lantern candle. Costumes also should be light-colored and/or trimmed with reflective tape, as should trick-or-treat bags.
- The Nemours Foundation also reminds you that dogs may be dressed up for Halloween also but children shouldn’t approach any animal even if they know it. Their costumes may frighten the dog, causing even the most docile animal to bite.
- All of the safety and medical experts say to tell children to walk on sidewalks and cross the street only at corners; if they must walk in the street, walk on the side facing the traffic. Don’t wear costumes or shoes that could cause the child to trip or fall, such as mom’s high heels.
- An adult should accompany any child under the age of 12, and children should have tags on the insides of their costumes with their name, address, and phone number in case they are separated from their group. Parents should know the companions of older children, and a curfew should be set. Instruct children not to go into strangers’ houses.
- Trick-or-treaters should carry a flashlight if out after dark.
- Instead of Halloween masks, use face paint that is labeled nontoxic. If a child must wear a mask, make sure the mask has holes for the eyes, nose, and mouth, allowing for proper ventilation and vision. Don’t put anything on a child’s head that will slide over his or her eyes. All costume accessories such as knives, swords, wands, or shields should be made of cardboard or a flexible material.
- Adults should remember that children might be in the streets, alleyways, driveways, and on medians. Drive slowly. If you are driving children from house to house, let them out on the curbside of the car. And be sure to clear porches, lawns, and sidewalks of anything that someone might trip over.
Finally, therapist Totty says, “You have to be their eyes and ears to protect them. And don’t allow them to gobble down candy as they’re running down the street!”
