Remember these safety tips for a happy Halloween

Today’s the day, a fun time of year for kids and adults. And if you love candy, especially chocolate, Halloween is an excuse to have some around and even eat a few pieces.

However, it’s a day when things can go wrong, so keep these safety precautions in mind.

Trick-or-treaters who are feeling sick should get tested and stay home to avoid sharing anything contagions. People handing out treats should wash their hands frequently. Party hosts should include outdoor spaces, if possible, and review options for improving ventilation in their homes to keep germs from spreading. Consider wearing a mask if you’re going to be in crowded indoor spaces.

Other dangers include unsafe costumes, overdoing it on sweets and treats, carving pumpkins, and setting up holiday decorations.

Here are additional Halloween safety tips offered by health and safety specialists:

• Wear costumes with “flame resistant” on the label. If you make a DIY costume, use flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon.
• Wear bright, reflective costumes or add strips of reflective tape so you’ll be more visible when crossing streets.
• Wear makeup and hats rather than costume masks that can obscure your vision.
• Test the makeup you plan to use at least 24 to 48 hours in advance to avoid allergic reactions.
• Check the FDA’s list of color additives to see if the vibrant colors that are popular at Halloween you’re considering using are FDA approved. If they aren’t approved for their intended use, don’t use them. This is especially important for colored makeup around the eyes.
• Don’t wear colored contact lenses that appear to change how your eyes look due to the risk of eye injury unless you have seen an eye care professional for a proper fitting and been given instructions for how to use the lenses.

When it comes to Halloween treats and sweets, the FDA offers the following nutritional and safety tips for trick-or-treaters:

• Don’t eat candy until it has been inspected at home.
• Eat a snack before heading out to avoid the temptation of nibbling on a treat before it’s been inspected.
• Check the label to ensure a food allergen isn’t present if someone in the family has a food allergy.
• Tell children not to accept — or eat — anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.
• Remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys from the Halloween bags for young children.
• Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also reminds the public to beware of Halloween holiday hazards. The CPSC estimates that an annual average of 3,200 Halloween-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments from 2019 to 2022.

Here’s how the injuries break down:

• 55 percent were related to pumpkin carving.
• 25 percent were due to falls while putting up or taking down decorations, tripping on costumes, or walking while trick-or-treating.
• 20 percent of the injuries included lacerations, ingestions, and other injuries associated with costumes, pumpkins or decorations, and allergic reactions or rashes.

Among the injured, 54 percent were adults 18 years and over, 46 percent were under 18 years old, and about 10 percent of all injuries were to children 6 years old or younger.

Stay safe this Halloween by observing the following CPSC safety tips:

Pumpkin carving

• Leave pumpkin carving to the adults. Child helpers can grab a spoon and scoop out the inside or use a marker to trace the design.
• Use battery-operated lights or glow sticks rather than an open-flame candle when your jack-o’-lantern masterpiece is ready.
• Keep jack-o’-lanterns away from curtains, decorations, and other combustibles that could catch fire if you’re using open-flame candles.
• Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Check out the CPSC’s Halloween safety DIY video: https://youtu.be/HF3as5MGlzY.

Decorating

• Prevent fires by using battery-operated lights and glow sticks instead of candles.
• Pay attention to placement of decorations. To help prevent falls, remove obstacles from lawns, steps, and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.
• Use the CPSC’s ladder safety tips to prevent injuries while putting up or taking down decorations.
• Use only lights, indoors or outside, that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets.

So, have a great time today celebrating this spooky, scary holiday. Halloween is a popular holiday with about three-fourths of Americas planning to celebrate it and spending an estimated $11.6 billion.