October 21, 2022:
Halloween is a fun filled holiday that can create unique risks for children. Below are few safety tips so your kids can stay safe and enjoy a Happy Halloween.
Pumpkin Fun Facts
- Pumpkins are usually orange but sometimes can be yellow white, green or red.
- A pumpkin can contain about 500 seeds. The average pumpkin provides approximately one cup of seeds.
- A carved pumpkin illuminated by light is known as a Jack-o-lantern.
- The original Jack-o-lanterns were made with turnips and potatoes by the Irish. The Irish immigrants brought their customs to America but found that pumpkins were much easier to carve. Carving pumpkins only became associated with Halloween in the late 1800s.
- The world’s heaviest pumpkin weighed over 2,600 pounds.
Pumpkin Carving Safety Tips
It is important to remember that there are some dangers associated with carving pumpkins. Here are some tips for keeping your Halloween season fun and injury-free.
- Purchase an age-appropriate pumpkin carving kit. Children’s kits include small, serrated pumpkin saws that work better because they are less likely to get stuck in the thick pumpkin tissue.
- Choose a location that is well lit and a work surface that is sturdy. Wash and thoroughly dry carving tools and cutting surface. Moisture can cause slipping that can lead to injuries.
- The recommended age to let your kids carve their own pumpkin is 9 to 12, depending on their strength and skill level. Never let a young child carve a pumpkin, it only takes a second for an injury to occur. If you allow your child to carve a pumpkin supervise them closely.
- To help keep younger children interested you can have them clean out the inside pulp and seeds, or let them decorate a pumpkin all their own. From covering the pumpkin in glitter, paint or adorning it in rhinestones there is a wealth of kid friendly ways to decorate a pumpkin.
- Burning candles is a potential fire hazard and can be especially dangerous to kids. Illuminate your pumpkin with an LED tea light, or glow stick instead of a candle, it is much safer.
- In the event of a cut, use a clean cloth to apply pressure and elevate the cut area above the level of the heart. Deeper cuts and cuts that do not stop bleeding after 15 minutes may require professional medical attention.
- In the event of a burn, apply cool wet compresses or immerse in cool clean water until his/her pain subsides. Over the counter pain medication and burn ointment may help.
Halloween Costume Safety Tips
- Purchase only flame-resistant costumes, wigs and accessories.
- Select costumes that are bright and reflective. Add reflective tape or stickers to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
- Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes and blocking vision.
- Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping and entanglement.
- Skip the masks and go crazy with makeup. Masks can limit a child’s vision and cause accidents like tripping or not seeing vehicles in the street. Makeup is a much safer alternative. Makeup should be tested ahead of time on a small patch of your child’s skin to ensure there are no allergic reactions.
- Avoid any sharp or long swords, canes, or sticks as a costume accessory. Your child can easily be hurt by these accessories if he or she stumbles or trips.
- Carry glow sticks or flashlights when tricker treating.
Halloween Costume Fun Facts
• Wearing a costume for Halloween has existed since medieval times. It started as a Celtic festival celebrating the summer’s end. In Scotland and Ireland, young people dressed up in costumes and went door-to-door looking for food or money in exchange for songs and poems. • Halloween is now the second largest commercial holiday in the country. It ranks second only after Christmas. • The most popular costumes this year are: Witch, Spider-Man Dinosaur, Stranger Things, Fairy, Pirate, Cheerleader, Cowboy, Harley Quinn, Vampire, Hocus Pocus, Chucky and Batman. Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Halloween full of fun times with friends and family!
It is important to take your child to pediatric specialists who are experts in treating only kids. At Children’s Orthopaedic and Scoliosis Surgery Associates, LLP our board certified, fellowship trained, specialists provide the best child-friendly care using the latest cutting-edge technology that results in the safest and most accurate outcomes. If your child injuries themselves carving pumpkins or falls trick or treating, please call our office at (727) 898-2663.
Medically Reviewed by Lee G. Phillips, MD, Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon- hand and upper extremity specialist.
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