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It’s almost time for Halloween, and as every parent knows, children love dressing up and trick-or-treating. While Halloween can be an epic adventure, it’s important to prioritize childrens’ safety during this festive time of year.

So how can you make sure your children enjoy a safe and happy Halloween? Follow these five Halloween safety tips for kids.

1. Make Costumes Bright and Reflective

If your children are planning to trick-or-treat at night, especially from home to home, having a bright and reflective costume can make your little ones visible to drivers and other groups of trick or treaters. If your child’s costume does not have reflective elements you can add small pieces of reflective tape without interfering with the costume design.

2. Make Sure Children Cross Streets at Crosswalks

Kids love to run wild any time, but the excitement and sugar rush of Halloween can increase the rambunctiousness! It is easy to get distracted as kids dart from house to house, however even in the safest neighborhoods it’s important to make sure children follow traffic safety rules to avoid accidents. Teaching children to cross the street at designated stop signs or crosswalks can help keep your family safe this Halloween.

3. Minimize Cell Phone Use

This one is for both parents and children! Digital distractions can be dangerous for kids and for the grownups watching out for them. Having your cell phone in case of an emergency is always a good idea, but save the Candy Crush and texting for another time. If you snap photos of your little monsters in action, wait until you get home to post them. Being aware of what is going on around you is critical for keeping everyone safe.

4. Check Candy Before They Eat

While the odds of your child being handed tampered-with candy are pretty low, it’s best to make sure all candy is factory-wrapped and sealed. Toss any candy that was accidentally ripped open or looks suspicious. If your children have any food allergies, you can also filter out the items that they can’t have (and put a few of your favorites aside for yourself!)

5. Use Safe Tools When Carving Pumpkins

Carving pumpkins is one of the most creative and fun ways to celebrate Halloween, but with sharp objects and lit candles, it can also be hazardous. If you plan on carving with your kiddos, consider using a pumpkin carving kit to make the activity safer. Make sure your kids are old enough to handle cutting tools safely and responsibly, and always supervise the activity. Additionally, using electric candles can help eliminate any fire hazards. Painting your pumpkins is also a fun and safe alternative to carving.

Happy Halloween (and one last tip!) from the team at Dr.STITCH

With these tips in mind, we hope that your family has a safe and stress-free Halloween. And as always, our year-round safety tip is to add Dr.Stitch to your contacts. Dr.STITCH is Long Island Plastic Surgical Group’s on-call service for immediate and urgent treatment of lacerations, burns, complex wounds, facial trauma, and hand injuries. We hope you never need us, but we’re here for you if you do!

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