Health News
Though ghouls and goblins willbe out in full force, there will be other, unexpected dangers lurking on Halloween, some before kids even leave the house.
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Health News
Tips for staying safe this Halloween include avoiding decorative contact lenses
Though ghouls and goblins willbe out in full force, there will be other, unexpected dangers lurking on Halloween, some before kids even leave the house.Though glowing, oddly-colored eyes might seem like the ultimate spooky touch to kids' costumes, officials with the Kentucky Optometric Association, along with the Food and Drug Administration, warn against using decorative, non-corrective contact lenses that are sold without a prescription from an eye doctor. (FDA photo)
"Consumers who purchase lenses without a prescription or without consultation from an eye doctor put themselves at risk of serious bacterial infection, or even significant damage to the eye's ability to function, with the potential for irreversible sight loss," said Lisa Sanford Howard, an optometrist in Middlesboro. Risks involve conjunctivitis (pink eye), swelling, allergic reaction and corneal abrasion due to a poor lens fit.
In considering costumes, parents should make sure their children can see well through masks and walk without tripping on their costume, Kentucky State Police advise. While they're on the street, children should carry a flashlight or have reflective tape on their costumes to make them more visible.
"On Halloween evening, we're placing our children in probably some of the most dangerous traffic situations you could imagine," said KSP Lt. David Jude. "Our children are outside after dark, they walk along and cross unfamiliar streets, and they often wear dark colors, which are difficult for motorists to see."
When children get home with their haul, they should not eat treats until they have been checked by an adult. Parents should discard unwrapped or suspicious candy.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates 41 million kids between ages 5 and 14 will go trick-or-treating this year.
- Sun Exposure Can Damage Eyes; Sunglasses Decrease Risk
Sunscreen, sunglasses. This should be your mantra as you step into the great outdoors this summer. Your skin needs protection from the damaging rays of the sun but so do your eyes, says the Kentucky Optometric Association. ?People spend a lot of...
- Halloween Candy Hikes Risk Of Cavities, Not Just From More Sugar, But From More Frequent Eating Of It; Here Are Tooth-friendly Tips
Photo from EnviroDad.comHalloween candy can rot your teeth. At Halloween, the issue is not just sugar, it's how often you eat it. Often, kids bring enough candy home from trick-or-treating to last a lifetime, but then eat the candy in a few days....
- Safety Tips For Trick Or Treating, Halloween Parties
The state Department for Public Health offers these food safety tips to help you have a safe Halloween: Avoid having children snack while they?re out trick-or-treating so you can inspect the contents of their treat bag. Give children a light meal...
- Itchy, Watery Eyes? Some Tips To Relieve Spring Allergy Symptoms
The sunshine and bright colors of spring are here, but so are seasonal allergies from pollen, dander, smog or mold that can often lead to itchy, watery eyes. Eye irritation is the body's immune response to allergens, so when pollen comes in contact...
- Twice As Many Kids Are Killed On Roads And Streets On Halloween As On Any Other Day, But Many Parents Fail To Discuss Safety
Only one-third of parents talk to their children each year about how to stay safe on Halloween, a study released by the Safe Kids Fayette County Program has found, even though on average, twice as many child pedestrians are killed during the holiday than...