What is Most Frightening about Halloween. Not Ghosts and Goblins Roaming the Neighborhood.

While getting your hands on this year’s most sought after Wicked Musical or K-Pop costume may be the only thing haunting you right now - here’s a scary statistic - pedestrian fatalities will increase by more than 40% on October 31st - according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

From trips and falls thanks to costumes that are too long or masks that block vision – to potential choking on candy that is snuck out of treat bags, Halloween can indeed be a surprisingly dangerous night.
But the experts at Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health want to help you focus on the fun, not the fear of all too common Halloween as a result of car accidents or unexpected allergic reactions.

"For a child with a food allergy, for example, Halloween can be a minefield,” says Virteeka Sinha, MD, division chief, Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center. “My most critical advice for parents is to enforce a 'no eating until you're home' rule. This gives you time to meticulously read every label, as even fun size treats can have different ingredients than their full-size counterparts. Also, you want to make sure to consider the choking risks that hard candy presents for toddlers and younger children.”

“We also see Halloween-related injuries in the days and weeks leading up to the holiday, including deep cuts from pumpkin carving and even burns from handling candles placed inside,” says Marie Grace Ponce, MD, division chief, Pediatric Emergency Medicine at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. “While decorating pumpkins is fun and may be considered tradition in some households, consider other ways to accomplish this, such as using non-toxic, water-based paints and stickers. If using items like glue and glitter, just monitor younger children to ensure they’re not placing these things in their eyes or mouth.”

Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health doctors also recommend the following precautions to help keep the night a safe and enjoyable:

For the Trick-or-Treaters:

• Always walk on sidewalks and not in the streets.
• Cross at corners and obey traffic signals - no darting across streets.

• Add some reflection to the look. It is best to wear a costume that is visible in the dark, but for extra precaution add some reflective tape to the costume and some glow in the dark sticks or bracelets.
• And do a costume “dress rehearsal” to eliminate any costume flaws in advance.

For Parents and Guardians:

• Stick to well-lit areas in the neighborhood.
• If your children are trick or treating with another adult chaperone or older siblings, make sure children are carrying their phone numbers and any other important contact information.
• Remind your children that they cannot eat anything until they get home, so you can check the stash of goodies. Toss it if it looks suspicious.
• Consider organizing a teal pumpkin project where you live. The focus here is on non-food treats as a safe alternative for those who have food allergies. Think arts and crafts giveaways.

For Drivers; On the Road Again:

• Slower speeds save lives, so slow down and continue to scan the road in areas where they are likely to be or where sight distances are limited.
• On Halloween there will likely be more pedestrians on the roads and in places where they are not expected.
• Stay alert for pedestrians who may come out from between parked cars or behind shrubbery. Stop, wait for them to pass.
• Don’t look at your phone when you’re driving.

“With some preparation, families can plan for a Halloween season that is safer this year,” adds Dr. Sinha. “Hosting an allergy friendly gathering where the focus is fun and crafts instead of food is one idea worth considering. Kids can decorate pumpkins or make decorations.”

Visit Hackensack Meridian Health for more information about trauma care.