Halloween Safety

Halloween: costumes, frights, and CANDY! The special joys of Halloween are enjoyed by millions each year. However like most big events or holidays, fun can quickly turn negative if proper safety and health precautions are not followed or taken seriously.

Make yourself visible - You or your child may be dressed in costumes that are made to be dark and replicate something that goes “bump in the night”. While this may be creepy and fun, others that are out and about will most likely not be able to see you. Get a flashlight for each person in your trick or treat party and consider reflective bands or glow sticks to add even more visibility. Be sure to walk, not run, to your next designation. This will give drivers time to see you! Stay on designated walking trails or pathways. If you’re going to be in an area without sidewalks or walkways, reach out to your local police station and ask what they recommend. Staying in areas well lit by street lights also helps!

Candy - Who doesn’t love candy? Halloween is sure to provide plenty of sweet treats for the entire family. Although the holiday only comes once a year, it is still a good idea to limit how much you eat. Also be sure to check for tampering or damaged candies that may be better to discard for safety. Depending on your child’s age, checking for choking hazards may be vital as well.

Costumes - Costume accessories should be soft, flexible, and short. If a costume has weapon replicas, make sure they have orange tips to indicate they are fake. If you or your child’s costume requires face or body paint, test a small area of skin days before ever applying it to an entire area. This will let you make sure there will be no allergic reactions that could ruin a fun night!

Lit candles and luminaries - Always step around open flames and make sure costumes do not drag or get close to them. For an extra layer of safety, only purchase flame-resistant costumes. It never hurts to be safe!


Taking extra precautions won’t put a damper on fun but will be sure to help you and your loved ones stay safe! Visit SafeKids.org for even more Halloween health and safety tips!

Concentration

How many times a day do you really need to clear your head and concentrate? Concentration is often needed in your every day life from everything from work to driving down the road. In a world full of electronic gadgets, noise, and multi-tasking, finding time to concentrate so that you may do your best is often near impossible. Studies have shown that certain modern day luxuries along with basic human concerns are making our ability to focus near impossible. Eliminating distractions is vital to ultimate concentration.


Log out of social media: Closing your browsers and apps aren’t enough. If you’re like most, you may have notifications set up to let you know about different actions that take place. If you’d rather not disable notifications, turn your device on silent and put it away. If you’re logged in on a desktop, close out all open windows connected to social media.


Push stress away: Having too much on your plate can make it hard to concentrate on individual tasks. It is too easy to let your brain get off track on the current task to think about other things or jobs that lie ahead. Try to learn stress reducing techniques such as meditation or doodling until your brain clears. Research has found that activities that require energy or movement of some sort are better to clear your mind.


Sleep, sleep, and more sleep: Fatigue is often enemy #1! Being tired can ruin your concentration even when other distractions aren’t present. Be sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Instead of trying to finish things or staying up late, make sleep a priority. Your mental and physical well being will thank you. Set up alarm clocks to help you wake up and remind you when it’s bed time.


Food is fuel: The brain can’t function without fuel. Skipping meals, breakfast especially, can set you up for a whole day of mental fog. Talk with your doctor or nutritionist about how many meals and snacks you should eat daily. Typically, high protein foods like cheese and nuts can quickly eliminate hunger and help you to focus.


If you find that natural means aren’t helping your concentration or mind, talk with your doctor about other options. They will be able to ask more questions and help you to determine if you have any other options.