Top Safety Tips for a Spooktacular Halloween

Image shared by @rachelroshani

Halloween gives us such a fun excuse to get creative with decorations and costumes with the whole family. We’ve called on Robert Giesler, Clinical Nurse in the Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit (NICCU) at Children's Hospital Los Angeles , to help us with tips + tricks to help keep your kids safe this Halloween.

 Safe Pumpkin Carving

It’s always a special moment visiting the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect Halloween pumpkins. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’s injury prevention team created step-by-step videos for safe pumpkin carving. Check it out!

Halloween Lights and Electronic Decorations

Festive lights set the mood for getting everyone in the spirit of Halloween. When purchasing lights, extension cords, and other electronic decorations, buy items that are UL-listed — this means the product underwent safety testing in a lab approved by the United States federal agency Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Use lights and decorations meant for outdoor use, which is usually stated on the packaging. If you put “indoor” lights or decorations outside, wet weather increases the risk of electric shock and fire. If you’re not sure if lights or decorations are rated for indoor or outdoor use, just check the color-coded holographic UL mark on the product’s package.

• Green mark: “Indoors only.”
• Red mark: “Indoors and outdoors.”

Whether your decorations are brand-new or used, inspect all lights, electronic decorations, and extension cords for wear and tear before using as your Halloween décor. If you can repair the damage (i.e., broken bulbs replaced), do not use the item until the you've made the fix. Click here for more safety tips related to lights and electronic decorations.

Fake Spider Webs

When assembled correctly, fake spider webs look and feel pretty real — spooky! Three tips to consider when using fake spider webs in your Halloween décor:

• If you have allergies, avoid getting the spider webbing near your nose.
• Colored fake spider webbing looks a lot like cotton candy, so supervise your children if they're helping you put up the spider webs.
• When placing the webbing in a high place, stand on a stable ladder or sturdy chair.  

Costumes

For many kids, Halloween costumes are the highlight of the holiday. Here are some tips for your child’s costume:

• The eye holes of a Halloween mask should be big enough so your child can see in all directions.
• The mask should fit securely around your child’s head.
• The costume should have snaps and velcro for closures if your child needs to get out of the costume quickly.
• A safe alternative to a Halloween mask is face make-up. Why not consider natural, non-toxic, and hypoallergenic makeup instead?

Halloween is fun for families, especially when safety comes first. My sons and I have a great time, and I hope you enjoy Halloween by letting your imagination run wild and free!

- Robert Giesler, BSN, RN III, RNC-NIC, RRT, CPST, Clinical Nurse in the Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit (NICCU) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Robert offers helpful tips for making sure there is proper venting in your child’s costume mask. Visit CHLA and WeTreatKidsBetter.org to learn more!