Play It Safe on Halloween!

Halloween can be one of the most fun and one of the most dangerous holidays, especially for kids. Between the extravagant costumes and the bucket loads of candy, it’s a child’s dream and a parent’s worst nightmare.

Here are a few tips to make this Halloween, a little safer so that you can spend more time trick-or-treating and less time in the emergency room:

 1. Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough so that kids won’t trip and fall.

2. Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treating bags for greater visibility at night.

3. Exchange masks for non-toxic make up and decorative hats. Masks can severely limit or block eyesight which can be extremely dangerous while on the road at night.

 4. Purchase costumes, wigs and accessories that are clearly labeled flame resistant.

 5. If a sword, cane or stick is part of your child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long, as they can become seriously injured if they trip and fall.

6. Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye exam and a prescription from an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Wearing contact lenses without a prescription can cause pain, inflammation of the eye, and serious eye disorders and infections which may lead to permanent vision loss.

7. Always carry a flashlight!

Make sure your family play it safe this Halloween and check out other safety tips from Halloween decorations to costumes to trick-or-treating.

Be Prepared in Case of an Emergency

An eye injury can happen in an instant and knowing how to respond quickly could mean the difference between saving your sight and losing it permanently.

90% of eye injuries are preventable but the other 10% of the time it’s important to be prepared! Here are 3 easy steps to stay prepared:

1. Wear eye protection for all hazardous activities and sports—at school, at home and on the job.
2. Stock a first aid kit with a rigid eye shield and commercial eyewash before an eye injury happens.
3. DO NOT assume that any eye injury is harmless. When in doubt, see a doctor immediately!

If you get something in your eye, like a wood chip while working at home or a piece of grass while mowing the lawn, follow these steps to make sure you keep your eyes safe:

1. DO NOT rub the eye!
2. Try to let tears wash the speck out or use eyewash.
3. Try lifting the upper eyelid outward and down over the lower lid.
4. If the speck does not wash out, keep the eye closed, bandage it lightly, and see a doctor.

For more information on what to do if you get chemicals in your eyes or if your eye or eyelid is cut or punctured, visit http://texas.preventblindness.org/first-aid-eye-emergencies.

The best way to make sure you don’t put your vision at risk is to play it safe and always remember to wear the right safety eyewear while playing contact sports and working with power tools. You could lose your vision in an instant, so keep it from harm’s way!