According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, it is estimated that more than 41 million children will trick-or-treat nationwide this Halloween, and it's important for parents to be aware of potential dangers to prevent a trip to the emergency room.
"We want everybody to have a great time, but we also want people to make sure they're safe," said Dr. Matt Young, emergency room physician and owner of Texarkana Emergency Center.
Confining trick-or-treat activity to known places is one way to limit potential dangers.
"Go in a familiar place where you know people you're trick-or-treating with," Young said. "There's usually always safety in numbers, so go with familiar people and friends. Go to familiar neighborhoods so you know who's giving out the treats and you don't have to worry about things being tampered with."
Trick-or-treating often gets under way as the sun sets, so it's important to make sure the little ghouls and goblins can be seen by motorists.
"We recognize it's at dusk or near dark, so we recommend carrying a flashlight or wearing reflective clothing so that people are aware there's movement in the area," Young said. "Make sure others can see you. Go to areas that are well-lit and obviously look like they're participating in festivities."
Parents are advised to examine all treats.
"If you get home and have some treats that don't look like they're wrapped like the store would wrap them or you're uncomfortable with the way they look, the best thing is to get rid of them and not let your child eat them. Just throw them away," he said.
Young said a few injuries are seen commonly on Halloween locally.
"It's a night when there are more injuries in the ER. There are more people out and it's usually dark. We see things like twisted ankles, hurt or broken arms. And children who've eaten more candy or treats than they usually do so, they get sick to their stomach with nausea and vomiting. We want everybody to have fun but space those treats out where they can enjoy them throughout the month, not just on Halloween night," Young said.
Other recommendations from the ACEP for trick-or-treating include:
Children should not walk alone in the dark. Go as a group, in a familiar neighborhood, with at least one adult chaperone. Seek organized festivities at schools or churches if possible.
Stay on the sidewalks when walking at night. If crossing the street, obey all traffic signals.
Discuss with children how to interact with strangers. Make sure your child knows to never accept rides from people they don't know.
Avoid candy that is not wrapped in its original wrapper.
Pay attention to labels. Edible marijuana and related products are becoming more common and can resemble food that looks harmless.
Know which candy contains common allergens, such as peanuts. Be prepared with allergy medication, if necessary.
Make sure costumes are visible at night. Use reflective tape. Avoid costumes that are hard to walk in or could cause a child to trip because of baggy pants, oversized shoes, etc.
Avoid costumes that obstruct the child's sight or vision.
Dress appropriately for the weather to avoid slipping and falling or putting a child at risk for hypothermia.
Avoid masks if possible.
Make sure costume fabric, wigs and beards are made of flame-resistant materials.
If a costume has an accessory, make sure it is made from flexible material and that any knives, swords, wands or pointed objects have dulled edges.
Use hypoallergenic makeup and remember to remove it before bed.