Tread carefully this Halloween

ROSEMONT, Ill., Oct. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dressing-up and gorging on candy are just two of the many reasons why Americans enjoy Halloween. But before roaming your neighborhood in your most frightful costume, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) urge you to stay alert to potential injury-causing dangers that loom while trick-or-treating.

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Research from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) shows that during 2007-2015:

• Halloween was the holiday with the fifth highest number of emergency room visits among children 18 and younger behind Labor Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Easter.
• Head injuries accounted for the greatest proportion of injuries on Halloween (17.6 percent)
• Of the finger/hand injuries sustained, 23.6 percent were lacerations.
• Children under age 5 (28.8 percent) and children ages 10-14 (28.5 percent) sustained the greatest proportion of injuries.

EXPERT ADVICE"Sometimes safety is the last thing on the agenda when having fun," said Joshua Matthew Abzug, MD, a pediatric orthopaedic hand surgeon at the University of Maryland Children's Hospital and an AAOS spokesperson. "Before hitting the streets, parents should educate themselves and their children on the dos and don'ts to ensure safety while trick-or-treating. For example, they should watch out for vehicles, distracted walkers, poorly lit houses and other dangers."

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SAFETY TIPSThe AAOS and POSNA offer the following trick-or-treating safety tips:

• Walk on sidewalks and never cut across yards or driveways. Obey all traffic signals and remain in designated crosswalks when crossing the street.
• Costumes should be flame-resistant and fit properly. The child's vision should be unobstructed by masks, face paint or hats. Costumes that are too long may cause kids to trip and fall, so trim or hem them as necessary.
• Bright-colored costumes make it easier for children to be seen at dusk or in the dark. Add reflective tape to costumes and treat bags to provide additional visibility.
• Wear sturdy, comfortable, slip-resistant shoes to avoid falls.
• Trick-or-treaters should only approach houses that are well-lit.
• Both children and parents should carry flashlights to see and be seen. Do not point your flashlight above chest level to avoid obstructing the vision of other trick-or-treaters.
• Be aware of neighborhood dogs when trick-or-treating, and remember that pets can impose a threat when you approach their homes.
• Carry a cell phone while trick-or-treating in case of an emergency.
• Children should always be supervised by an adult.

More Information about the AAOSWith more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the world's largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The AAOS provides educational programs for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals, champions and advances the highest quality musculoskeletal care for patients, and is the authoritative source of information on bone and joint conditions, treatments and related issues. 

Visit AAOS, at: Newsroom.aaos.org for bone and joint health news, stats, facts, images and interview requests. ANationinMotion.org for inspirational patient stories, and orthopaedic surgeon tips on maintaining bone and joint health, avoiding injuries, treating musculoskeletal conditions and navigating recovery. Orthoinfo.org for patient information on hundreds of orthopaedic diseases and conditions. Facebook.org/AAOS1 Twitter.com/AAOS1

 

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SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons