THIS POST IS PART OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Halloween is an exciting time filled with spooky stories, candy and costumes. However, it can lead to scary Halloween injuries.
According to Protect America, there are 3,800 Halloween injuries per year. Yikes! So here’s a list of the most common Halloween injuries and how to prevent them.
When bumps, breaks and sprains do happen, visit OrthoIndy Urgent Care. OrthoIndy Urgent Care has six locations conveniently located with weekend and evening hours. Our three Sunday locations do close at 3pm on Halloween, but all six locations are open bright and early Monday morning at 8am.
1. Trips and falls from trick or treating
Trick or treating around the neighborhood and getting all sorts of delicious candy means walking on uneven surfaces.
With all the kids running around in the neighborhood in the evening hours and limited light, OrthoIndy sees a fair amount of foot and ankle injuries. Costumes can obstruct visibility and it is easy to misstep down a step or into a hole in the yard or trip over a crack in the sidewalk. These type of injuries lead to sprains, strains and fractures of the foot and ankle.
2. Cuts from pumpkin carving
Carving pumpkins can be a fun activity for the whole family to get involved in. Picking out a design for your jack-o-lantern and scooping out all the pumpkin seeds can be a great way to get into the Halloween spirit. However, be mindful that carving utensils have sharp edges and can lead to cuts or scrapes. It is best if an adult handles the carving while the kids scoop out the pumpkin seeds.
3. Flammable objects and burns
Make sure your costume accessories such as beards, wigs and masks are flame resistant and try to avoid getting costumes made out of cotton because it burns more quickly. Stick to costumes made out of nylon or polyester. Also, make sure to double check your jack-o-lanterns for lit candles before sticking your hand inside them.
4. Candy poisoning
Check to make sure the candy is safe before letting your children eat it. Dump all the candy out and inspect it for unopened wrappers, unusual objects or smells before indulging. If you believe your child has been poisoned, please call 911 right away.
5. Traffic accidents
Be cautious when crossing the street during trick or treating. Use flashlights and reflectors to stay visible to drivers, especially if you’re wearing dark clothing. Stay on the sidewalks and be aware of your surroundings. If you are driving on Halloween night, drive slowly with caution looking out for trick-or-treaters darting across the street.
Although most injuries will be a strain or sprain, the inability to bear weight is a sign that you should have an X-ray to rule out a fracture. Pain that lasts more than 24-48 hours probably warrants a visit to a provider for evaluation.
OrthoIndy Urgent Care is open seven days a week and provides immediate access to orthopedic care so you can avoid the emergency room wait and cost.
For questions about OrthoIndy Urgent Care call 317.802.2000.
Schedule an appointment
Your well-being is important to us. Click the button below or call us to schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic specialists. If your injury or condition is recent, you can walk right into one of our OrthoIndy Urgent Care locations for immediate care. For rehabilitation and physical therapy, no referral is needed to see one of our physical therapists.
