Halloween Injuries: Accessories That Put the Scare in Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner and if you want a real scare, consider the following statistics:

• Halloween ranks among the top three holidays in terms of injuries and / or fatalities. The other two most dangerous holidays are July 4^th (fireworks) and New Year’s Eve (drunk driving).
• In the 20-year period from 1990 to 2010, the number of fatal accidents involving child pedestrians on Halloween averaged 5.5 each year, compared with 2.6 for other days.
• Insurance company statistics indicate that the deadliest night of the year for pedestrians is Halloween.

Motor-vehicle-versus-pedestrian accidents are just one of the dangers associated with this holiday. Contaminated treats, flammable costumes and costume obstructions are others. This year a new warning has been issued regarding potential injuries from certain costume accessories, which could affect adults as well as children

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has warned against the use of decorative, over-the-counter contact lenses, stating that these lenses can leak chemicals that are harmful to the eye or cause scratches or ulcers on the eyeball as a result of their stamped pattern design. To learn more about this latest Halloween hazard, read the www.nj.com article, “This Halloween accessory could damage your eyes, doctors warn.”

For further information on how to keep all trick-or-treaters, both young and old, safe this Halloween, see the Scholastic Parents article, “Safety Tips for a Happy Halloween.”