El Paso County Public Health
By Dr. Paul Mayer, co-medical director of El Paso County Public Health
It’s officially fall in Colorado and the start of end-of-year holiday festivities. Calendars are filled with fun fall activities and store shelves are stocked with Halloween costumes and candy to kick off the season. No matter how you celebrate fall or Halloween, it’s important to remember a few tips to keep everyone safe during this spooky time.
While trick-or-treating, make sure to:
- Walk safely and use crosswalks or cross streets at corners. Don’t assume cars will stop.
- Remember to put electronic devices away while walking to ensure you are aware of what’s taking place around you.
• Always accompany young children on their neighborhood adventures.
• Stay in areas that are familiar and well-lit.
• Teach children to only accept candy at the door and never go inside.
- Keep costumes safe by using face paint instead of masks. Masks can limit what a child sees, making them more susceptible to trips and falls and limiting what they see when they cross the street.
• Have children carry glow sticks to make them more visible to drivers.
• Make sure costumes fit to eliminate tripping hazards.
Other ways to make Halloween a bit healthier and safe:
- Consider offering non-edible goodies to trick-or-treaters — this makes the evening fun for those with food allergies. A few fun items to give instead of something edible could be glow sticks, spider rings, pencils, whistles, bookmarks or finger puppets.
- Remember, when carving pumpkins, use a pumpkin carving kit versus a kitchen knife. This will allow for fun and creativity without unintentional injury.
However you choose to celebrate the start of the holiday festivities, help maximize fun by remembering to be prepared and think through how to be safe.
For additional information on safe Halloween practices, visit the following links:
• City of Colorado Springs:
https://coloradosprings.gov/fire-department/page/halloween-safety
• Safe Kids Worldwide:
https://www.safekids.org/tip/halloween-safety-tips
• American Safety Council:
