We all know that the month of October in South Florida is all about two very important things, one being Breast Cancer Awareness Month and two being Halloween! Yes, Halloween.

I don’t want to downplay the importance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but for the sake of our blog and interest in protecting our children, stick with me on this one.

Around our neck of the woods, we take Halloween pretty seriously and tend to do what we know to do best, go big! Halloween among the “big kids” is truly about the opportunity of showing off the most lavish and over-the-top costumes, but as for our children, they are still focused on the good ol’ contents found in  their candy bags – probably the scariest of all things for parents!

At Medi-Station Urgent Care we cannot emphasize enough the importance of being aware of the dangers that are brewing in your own children’s candy bags. From as minimal as GMO chemicals in the candy to razor blades and bullets. It is not uncommon that an innocent trick-or-treat walk around the block can turn into a chaotic and life-changing event. This is why we have compiled a few of our own tips on trick-or-treating and overall safety of your child during this holiday season:

•  Avoid solo trick-or-treating – your children should not be unsupervised or unaccompanied.
• Give your kids a flashlight to help them see at night and help others see them too – Many costumes consist of dark fabrics, which could be difficult to see on a dark neighborhood road.
• Instruct your kids to walk, not run – tripping and falling could be one thing, but getting hit by a moving vehicle, now that’s critical.
• Teach kids not to dart out into streets – follow correct crossway regulations and make sure to look both ways before crossing the streets.
• Examine all goodies for choking hazards – in many occasions, items such as razors, needles, pins and even bullets have been found in children’s candy bags within the candy themselves. Also, there have been cases where drugs in the shape of candy have also been given to children. It is imperative  that parents and any responsible adults check the candies before giving them to their children.

Throughout the years, we kept our doors open for trick-or-treaters as well as for those with urgent health matters. Within those years, we’ve seen our fair share of Halloween injuries and can’t emphasize enough the importance of practicing safety. If you find yourself or children in need of medical attention, drop on in, we are here to help and get you right back to the Halloween festivities.