Genesee News

Genesee County Health Department issued the following announcement on Oct. 27.

With all the excitement of Halloween, parents need to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of their children during trick-or-treating, especially when it comes to their costumes.

Follow these Safety Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to ensure your child’s costume is safe and fun, and don’t forget to incorporate a cloth face covering for COVID-19 safety:

1) Plan costumes that are bright and reflective – Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.

2) Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement, or contact with flame.

3) Look for "flame resistant" on the costume labels – Wigs and accessories should also clearly indicate this.

4) Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives to masks – Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes. Makeup should be tested ahead of time on a small patch of your child's skin to ensure there are no unpleasant surprises or allergic reactions on the big day. Toxic ingredients have been found in cosmetics marketed to teens and tweens.

5) Avoid any sharp or long swords, canes, or sticks as a costume accessory – Your child can easily be hurt by these accessories if he or she stumbles or trips.

6) Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional.

Original source can be found here.

Source: Genesee County Health Department