The American
How safe is your
I
Halloween?
t’s Issue 666 for The American. (Cue “Woooooooh!” and other spooky noises off.) So of course we have to look at the spookiest night of the year. We stertd looking at how All Hallows Eve is celebrated differently in the UK and U.K. Then we decided not to – it’s virtually the same nowadays, with trick or treat and other American customs now commonplace here. Instead, Mary Muscari, associate professor at State University of New York, has some timely advice for parents when their kids art transformed into ghouls and ghosts this Halloween. l Help them choose costumes that allow for adequate vision and mobility. Plan ahead so that last-minute costume designs don’t lead to trips and falls. l Flame resistant does not mean fireproof, so keep trick or treaters away from open flames. Do not use real fire as part of their costume - fake, flickering lights do just as good a job and won’t blow out in the wind. l Superheroes, pirates, cowboys and other weapon wielding wonders should carry props that are obviously fake and will not cause accidents and injury. l Older children and teens should be cautious about controversial costumes. Dressing like a rival gang member on the wrong turf can have disastrous consequences. l Trick or treat during daylight
hours, or make sure part of your child’s costume is reflective so motorists can see them. l Plan the trick or treat route. Select homes you know. This is not the time for kids to boldly go where no kid has gone before. l Accompany young children and make sure older kids travel in groups. No child should trick or treat alone, even to the house next door. l Carry flashlights and a cell phone with fresh batteries.
Reinforce these safety measures l Don’t talk to or take anything from strangers. l Walk, don’t run l Follow pedestrian safety rules (use cross walks, obey traffic lights, etc.) l How to call home or 999 in case of emergency l How to ‘Stop-Drop-and-Roll” if their costume does catch on fire. l No bad behavior - egg throwing, toilet paper hanging, graffiti, or any other creative mayhem. l Instruct children to not eat any of their booty until you inspect it.
Minimize temptation by giving them nibbles from home to munch on along their route. Use your booty inspection to ration the goodies and ward off bellyaches. [Yeah, right – skeptical ed.]
Be a good host for goblins
l Offer healthy alternatives to candy, like popcorn. Choose pre-packaged treats. Safety conscious moms may toss out unwrapped goodies. l Turn on outdoor lighting, and keep walkways clear of safety hazards. l Keep pets inside and away from the front door. The noise and sights can frighten pets, which may bolt. Candy can cause harm to pets, too.
Better News for Kids
It’s not the amount of candy kids eat that raises cavity risk but how often. “The frequency of eating candy (and other refined carbohydrates like chips and pretzels) and their stickiness, are big factors in creating the risk of cavities,” says Mark Helpin, pediatric dentist at Philadelphia’s Temple University. Eating carbohydrates can change the pH balance of the mouth, making it more acidic and increasing the risk of cavities. It can take up to an hour for the acidity to reduce again. “It’s better to eat a bunch [of candy] now and a bunch later,” he explains, “But don’t let them have one piece now, then an hour later let them have another piece”. H
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