Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition; straddling the line between fall and winter. Halloween has evolved into a community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treating. In a number of countries around the world, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people continue to usher in the winter season with gatherings, costumes and sweet treats.
Halloween is one of the top three holidays producing the most ER visits. Consider these statistics from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:
-Finger/hand injuries accounted for the greatest proportion of injuries on Halloween (17.6%)
-Of the finger/hand injuries sustained on Halloween, 33.3 % were lacerations and 20.1% were fractures
-Children, ages 10-14 sustained the greatest proportion of injuries (30.3%)
ProOrtho wants you to be safe while trick-or-treating this Halloween and offer some safety tips to keep you out of the ER:
-Use a flashlight while trick or treating to prevent trip or treating.
– Practice walking in the shoes you will wear with your costume to ensure you can safely walk in them for one night versus having to walk in a boot for 4-6 weeks with an ankle fracture – Slip-resistant shoes are always a good idea!
– If you cut your finger or hand while carving a pumpkin make sure the hand is elevated higher than the heart and apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth to stop the bleeding. If continuous pressure does not slow or stop the bleeding after 15 minutes, or if the cut is deep, an urgent care or emergency room visit may be necessary.
– If dressing up as a character who has signature moves you will be repeating all night, (think of notorious Elvis hip moves or a perfectly executed Russell Wilson touchdown pass), try doing some stretching prior to the night to ensure you are ready to pose all night long.
– Make sure that masks, hats and face paint do not block your vision to prevent accidental trips and/or falls.
– Costumes should be flame-resistant – We don’t want you to go up in flames, so check the labels of your costume.
– Approach homes that are well lit and stay away from candles that may catch your costume on fire.
– Carry a cell phone while trick-or-treating in case of an emergency.
