Doctors warn of Halloween costume dangers

THE PILES ARE FULLY PUT OUT. IT WON’T BE LONG NOW. KIDS IN COSTUMES ARE GOING TO BE TAKING OVER THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. HALLOWEEN. IT IS A WEEK FROM FRIDAY. IT’S NICE AND IT’S ON FRIDAY THIS YEAR TOO. SO SOME COSTUMES, THOUGH, COULD BE A LITTLE BIT SCARIER THAN THEY LOOK AS. SEVEN KEEPS YOU SAFE. PEYTON SPELLACY JOINS US LIVE TO EXPLAIN HOW SOME COULD BE DANGEROUS. GOOD MORNING PEYTON. HEY, GOOD MORNING TODD AND ROYALE. SO DOCTORS SAY THAT EMERGENCY VISITS DO SEE A SPIKE AROUND HALLOWEEN. IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS AFTER. AND A LOT OF THOSE ARE BECAUSE OF INJURIES DUE TO SIMPLE TRIPS OR FALLS. SO PEDIATRICIANS SAY IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOUR COSTUMES FIT PROPERLY. SO NO LONG CAPES OR DRAGGING DRAGGING FABRIC THAT CAN CATCH ON STEPS. NEXT, DOUBLE CHECK THAT MASKS ARE ON CORRECTLY. IF IT BLOCKS YOUR CHILD’S VISION, IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WALKING IN THE DARK. IT’S RECOMMENDED THAT THEY LIFT THEIR MASK UNTIL YOU REACH THE DOOR THAT YOU ARE TRICK OR TREATING AT. IT’S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE CAREFUL WITH FACE PAINT, AS IT MAY CAUSE ALLERGIC REACTIONS. SOME OF THE FACE MAKEUP WILL HAVE THINGS LIKE CADMIUM OR MERCURY, OR EVEN LEAD IN IT. NOWADAYS, WE I THINK MOST COMPANIES ARE AVOIDING THOSE, BUT THEY ENRICH THE COLORS. AND SO THEY, THEY DO KIND OF MAKE THEM BRIGHTER. SO USING THOSE IN MODERATION, IF AT ALL, USING REGULAR MAKEUP THAT YOU KNOW, THEY SELL IN YEAR ROUND MIGHT BE A BETTER CHOICE. YEAH. SO SHE SAYS THAT YOUR FACE ACTUALLY IS THE MOST SENSITIVE SKIN ON YOUR BODY. SO YOU WANT TO TEST THAT FACE PAINT MAYBE ON YOUR ARM AND DO A PATCH TEST A FEW DAYS IN ADVANCE. NOW, IF THAT PATCH TEST TURNS RED, ITCHY, OR IF IT STARTS TO BURN, THAT’S A SIGN THAT YOU MAY HAVE AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO THAT FACE PAINT, AND YOU MIGHT WANT TO SKIP IT ALL TOGETHER. REPORTING LI

Doctors warn of Halloween costume dangers

From tripping hazards to toxic face paint, pediatricians urge parents to check costumes carefully before kids hit the streets.

Updated: 8:38 AM MDT Oct 22, 2025

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Soon, kids in costumes will take over neighborhoods. Halloween is a week from Friday. Some costumes could be scarier than they look. Doctors say emergency rooms often see a spike in visits the day after Halloween, and many injuries come from simple trips and falls. Pediatricians say it’s important to make sure costumes fit properly, with no long capes or dragging fabric that can catch on steps.Next, double-check that masks are on correctly. If a mask blocks your child’s side vision, it can be dangerous to walk in the dark. It’s also recommended for people to lift their masks until they reach the door where they are trick-or-treating.Be careful with face paint as it may cause allergic reactions.Chelsea Sanchez, a pediatrician with Optum New Mexico, said, “Some of the face makeup will have things like cadmium or mercury or even lead in it. Nowadays, I think most companies are avoiding those, but they enrich the colors, and so they do kind of make them brighter. So, using those in moderation, if at all, using regular makeup that, you know, they sell them year-round might be a better choice.”Your face has the most sensitive skin on your body, so before putting any makeup on, test it on your or your child’s arm days in advance. If the skin turns red, itchy or starts to burn, skip it altogether.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

Soon, kids in costumes will take over neighborhoods. Halloween is a week from Friday. Some costumes could be scarier than they look.

Doctors say emergency rooms often see a spike in visits the day after Halloween, and many injuries come from simple trips and falls. Pediatricians say it’s important to make sure costumes fit properly, with no long capes or dragging fabric that can catch on steps.

Next, double-check that masks are on correctly. If a mask blocks your child’s side vision, it can be dangerous to walk in the dark. It’s also recommended for people to lift their masks until they reach the door where they are trick-or-treating.

Be careful with face paint as it may cause allergic reactions.

Chelsea Sanchez, a pediatrician with Optum New Mexico, said, “Some of the face makeup will have things like cadmium or mercury or even lead in it. Nowadays, I think most companies are avoiding those, but they enrich the colors, and so they do kind of make them brighter. So, using those in moderation, if at all, using regular makeup that, you know, they sell them year-round might be a better choice.”

Your face has the most sensitive skin on your body, so before putting any makeup on, test it on your or your child’s arm days in advance. If the skin turns red, itchy or starts to burn, skip it altogether.

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