Safety Tips for
Ghouls, Vampires or Witches
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October is a wonderful month for celebrations. We have Columbus Day,
Oktoberfest, Boss Day, United Nations Day and the most anticipated of all, Halloween. Columbus Day is a quiet, safe day and the only danger that confronts us on Boss Day is to forget to send the boss a congratulatory card. The perils of Oktoberfest lie in the manner in which a celebrant can handle his beer.
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Halloween, on the other hand, is memorable for tampered fruit and candy and wrenching stomach aches from too much candy consumption by little people with big eyes. This is not to mention chalk night and mischief night when anything intolerable will be tolerated. Igniting horse manure at the door of a neighbor who refused to offer a treat is one of the more distasteful activities some will endure. However, the supposed care-free costumes and Halloween cosmetic changes that transport us to the "monster" side of the celebration leads to the riskiest holiday tradition for Americans.
For instance - while those scary colored contact lenses that can replicate the eyes of a devil, ghoul, or tiger have become a popular element of the costumes and can add some fun and flourish to a costume - they can also result in severe eye injury if used without ECP advice. These decorative lenses are sometimes sold illegally to children and others who may suffer from devastating eye disorders such as scarring, infections or even blindness. Many people do not realize that contact lenses are classified as medical devices and can only be obtained through a licensed eye care professional.
In spite of repeated warnings regarding the special contact lenses that seem to be popular during this holiday, troubles still remain to be solved. Statistics show that in 2003 there were nearly 1,100 eye injuries related to contact lenses treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. These lenses come in a wide variety of patterns and colors. A popular variety, well known in contact fitting circles, are those that make you look scary, such as cat's eyes. They can make a very cool fashion statement, especially on Halloween. But they are not toys nor should they be treated as such.
Over the counter purchase of these lenses can lead to serious eye complications. These problems include decreased flow of oxygen to the cornea, bacterial infections, swelling, eye pain, sensitivity to light, conjunctivitis, corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers and loss of clear vision. If untreated, these conditions can lead to permanent eye damage and loss of sight. To prevent loss of vision and avoid painful eye injuries, the Opticians Association of Ohio and the Ohio Optical Dispenser’s Board offer the following tips:
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Always visit a licensed eye care professional to be fitted for cosmetic contact lenses.
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Never buy contact lenses without a prescription.
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Always clean and disinfect lenses according to instructions.
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Always use water soluble cosmetics or those labeled safe for use with contact lenses. Do not apply skin creams or moisturizers too close to the eyes.
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Never wear opaque lenses if you have any trouble with night vision.
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Never share or trade your contact lenses with anyone.
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Be vigilant about older children's appearance before letting them leave the house. If they are wearing cosmetic lenses, question them as to where they got them.
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Never wear costumes that could block vision, such as some masks, wigs, hats, or eye patches.
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Always wear hypoallergenic or non toxic makeup. Only adults should apply the make-up to children and remove it with cold cream or make-up remover instead of soap.
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False eyelashes should only be applied and removed according to the manufacturer’s instructions on the product's package.
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Avoid props or accessories that have sharp edges or pointed ends such as pitchforks, spears, knives, swords or wands.
Yes, eating sweet treats is also a big part of the fun on Halloween. If you're trick or treating, health and safety experts say you should remember these rules:
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Don't eat candy until it has been inspected at home.
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Trick-or-treaters should eat a snack at home before starting out, so that they will not be tempted to nibble on treats that haven't been inspected at home.
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Tell children not to accept or eat anything that is not commercially wrapped.
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Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.
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Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.
Most people consider apple bobbing a jolly Halloween tradition that poses a danger no graver than getting a squirt of water up your nose. But now, apple bobbing has fallen foul of the health and safety police. They have advised participants of this seemingly harmless event to wear goggles and use bottled water and remove the stalks from the apples. A hospital eye consultant said that “a high velocity impact with an apple" had the potential to cause serious eye injury, while dirty water could lead to infection or even blindness.
He also recommended disinfecting water containers, using bottled mineral water and turning on lights so the apple bobber can see what he is doing. An ophthalmologist, Parwez Hossein, from Southampton General Hospital, even suggested contestants remove the apples by hand instead of by mouth. The youth of America will eternally consider the doctor’s dictum as a defeat of the whole object of apple bobbing fun. Dr. Hossein also added glow sticks which contain an irritating substance if splashed on the eye to the Halloween danger list. He states that casualties on school or community bonfire nights have been reduced due to increased public awareness.
However, this is not true of Halloween night. Adrian Barlow, chief executive of English Apples and Pears, which represents apple growers, said "Health and safety can be taken too far and in this case is ludicrous in the extreme. I have never heard of anybody suffering an injury as a result of apple bobbing."
Ophthalmologist Majid Moshirfar from the Moran Eye Center addresses safety rules as the participants walk on the streets at night and are exposed to traffic. He warns, “Wear reflective clothing or patches somewhere on the costume to be easily seen by others. It is important on this night for pedestrians and drivers alike to obey traffic signals and signs. Younger children should be accompanied by an adult while traveling about the neighborhood. Older children should trick-or-treat in groups. Participants are urged to use common sense. Never dart out between parked cars or hidden corners such as alleys. Don't trick-or-treat in busy commercial areas or where there is heavy traffic. Avoid streets that are under construction. Daylight trick-or-treating is safer than going out after dark and Halloween parties safest of all.
Prevent Blindness America offers the following additional tips: Make sure that shoes fit well and costumes are short enough to prevent tripping and falling. Select costumes that are flame resistant. A final warning states that tripping hazards (hoses and potted plants) should be removed from your porch or walkway. Place jack-o-lanterns well out of the way of celebrants.
We ought to keep danger and risks out of this holiday, but retain the fun. Follow the recommendations of our experts.
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