BEST IN SHOW OR HALLOWEEN HAZARD?
COSTUME SAFETY TIPS FOR KIDS
Test makeup first. Halloween is a great time to have fun with face paint, and makeup is a good alternative to masks, which can obscure a child’s vision. However, a lot of costume makeup isn’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Before letting your child cover their face in makeup from the Halloween store, test their skin for allergic reactions by putting just a little bit on the back of their hand first. Practice prop safety. What’s a Jedi Knight without her lightsaber or a wizard without his magic wand? The right accessories can really bring a costume together, but it’s important that props — especially weapon props, like swords, knives, or guns — are not mistaken for the real thing. Choose props that are obviously fake, with round edges made from soft, flexible material. And if your child wants to wear their Halloween costume to school or some other event, check the rules on props beforehand to avoid any trouble.
For many kids, picking out a costume is the best part of Halloween. Will they be a spooky witch, a wildcat, or their favorite superhero? There are so many options! But in all the fun, it can be easy for parents to overlook certain risks that Halloween costumes can pose. Here are important safety tips to remember when choosing the best Halloween costume. Look for fire-resistant costumes. Candles inside jack-o’-lanterns and other open flames are everywhere on Halloween night, so make sure your child’s costume isn’t a fire hazard. Most store-bought costumes are made from fire-resistant materials, but you should still check the labels on all costumes, wigs, and accessories. The same goes when you’re buying fabric for homemade costumes. And remember, fire-resistant is not the same as fireproof. While fire-resistant material takes longer to burn and can be put out quickly, it can still catch fire and cause serious injuries. Remind your child to use caution around open flames and avoid costumes with flimsy, hanging components, like flowing sleeves, long skirts, and capes.
Halloween is a night for ghosts and goblins to come out to play, and with these tips, your kids can safely dress up and join in the fun.
HAROLD W. OF POMEROY, OH
Harold W. of Pomeroy, OH, was 24 years old. Working as a laborer at a local lumber yard, he was feeding logs into a sawmill when one kicked back and hit him in the back, jamming him into a steel debarker. He was hospitalized at the VA hospital in Pomeroy and underwent emergency surgery for compression injuries of the abdomen, transverse colon, and small intestine mesentery, as well as a laceration of the cecum. Following recovery from surgery and nearly two years off, Harold returned to work as a laborer, missing intermittently, for almost 20 years at salvage yards, gas stations, and a nearby power plant. He experienced persistent back pain after his injury and nearly constant intestinal issues that worsened with time. Ultimately, radiating pain in both sides of his groin and lower extremities, coupled with numbness, tingling, weakness, and instability of his legs, led to debilitating anxiety and the development of a stress disorder. This further reduced his capacity to work and increased his need for pain medication. Harold completed the 10th grade before quitting school to make money. He later served in the United States Army and then 11 years in the Ohio National Guard before being honorably discharged. Having fought to return to work following his original injury (statistics verify that most people unemployed for more than a year after an injury never return to work), Harold was devastated when his doctor confirmed his injuries had worsened to the point where further work was impossible. He was declared permanently and totally disabled by the Ohio Industrial
Commission, which found that his physical and emotional limitations, coupled with his age, education, and previous work experience, prohibited him from engaging in any sustained work activity. As Harold also receives a VA pension and other access to medical care, he settled his workers’ compensation claim after PTD was awarded so that he could have money to send his two honor-roll children to college.
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