Tips to Stay Safe on Halloween

Most of us are old enough to remember when Halloween candy razor blades were considered a real danger. While this urban legend has probably been debunked, there are still a lot of dangers in this spooky season beyond just scary movies on TV or things that go bump in the night. 

Halloween events, popular family fun destinations, and even trick-or-treating candy can all pose dangers for the unwary.

Today, the Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge legal team is sharing tips for avoiding some of the more common Halloween dangers to keep you and your family safe.

Haunted Houses

Haunted houses are supposed to be spooky, with ghosts, ghouls, and jump scares galore. Be careful this year when visiting them; you can easily get hurt by tripping and falling inside. The surfaces are often designed to disorient visitors and add to the spooky, unsettling feeling to make the house scarier. 

You may also trip over wires or other people in the dimly lit house, spraining or breaking a wrist or ankle. Consider wearing a glow bracelet around your arm or ankle to increase visibility, and always walk — don’t run! — even if something scary is chasing you.

Tripping hazards are also present when trick or treating so be sure to bring flashlights and to be attentive when walking at night. 

Faulty Halloween Costumes

Although lead paint in costume makeup is mostly a thing of the past, it is still present in some paints and makeup manufactured in places where the regulations are much less stringent than those in the U.S. 

Some Halloween face paint could contain dangerous levels of lead, mercury, and asbestos. And you can’t always tell when paints are contaminated — even those that aren’t made in China or developing countries.

For example, talc is used by many cosmetics manufacturers in the face and body powder, blush, and powders designed for sweat-wicking. It’s a filler ingredient that should be listed on the label. 

Talc has been linked to mesothelioma, a rare but deadly lung cancer, and when used on the body, especially the thighs and lower abdomen, it has been linked to ovarian and uterine cancers in women.

Instead of choosing a themed face paint for your child’s costume, consider a safe mask, or look online for makeup tutorials by cosmetics enthusiasts. There are likely several that provide step-by-step tutorials using safer products.

Staying Safe on the Road

For smaller children, Halloween means tromping around the neighborhood with a sackful of candy. Halloween is a party time for older teens, and young adults, but with adult beverages and sometimes drugs, for older teens, young adults, and even older adults. 

Be very careful while walking with your children trick-or-treating — Halloween night has one of the highest rates of drunk driving incidents than any other night of the year, and party-goers may not be as careful or aware, especially if you are walking at night and your child’s costume is dark.

If you’re planning to drive on Halloween night, use caution and practice defensive driving skills, bearing in mind that there’s a higher likelihood of encountering someone driving under the influence. 

If you’re a parent of an older teen or young adult, keep an eye on them for signs of drug use or alcohol poisoning. Make sure your older child knows how to get home safely by calling you or another trusted adult or using a rideshare service. Of course, they should never drive if they’ve been drinking.

Preventing Halloween Dangers and Harm

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers several tips to avoid getting a harmful “trick” this Halloween:

• Look for costumes that are labeled as flame-resistant or make your own costume using flame-resistant materials like nylon or polyester
• Add strips of reflective tape to your child’s Halloween costume or choose an outfit that is bright and reflective for higher visibility
• Make sure that the costume isn’t too long and that any costume-related footwear fits securely
• Test your Halloween makeup 24 to 48 hours before the big night by using a patch test on your inner arm (if you notice hives, redness, or a rash, it could be an allergic reaction or a sign of contamination)
• Check the FDA website for the list of approved color additives for makeup (do not use it if the dye or color isn’t approved for use on the skin)
• Steer clear of decorative, colored contact lenses unless you’ve gotten them from an eye care professional or optometrist (some costume contact lenses can cause eye injuries or even blindness)
• Check your child’s treats and toss packages that have been opened or tampered with

If your child has allergies, look for houses with a teal pumpkin. This is a sign that the homeowner has treats for children who may have nut, egg, peanut, chocolate, or other food allergies and cannot have certain kinds of candy. Instead, your child will be offered a selection of non-edible items or sweets that don’t contain specific allergens.

Be Spooky, but Stay Safe!

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a defective or contaminated Halloween product, or if you get into an accident and are hurt this year because of the actions of another person, a personal injury lawyer can help protect your legal interests and file a claim for your losses and injuries on your behalf. 

Contact the team at Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge today for more information.