SUNDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Children are four times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween night than on any other night of the year, according to experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In addition, the researchers warned that eye trauma from sharp objects and burns from flammable costumes are also common Halloween injuries.
"Children should be out having fun and spending time with family and friends. They should not have to spend Halloween in the ER because of some injury that could have been easily prevented," Dr. Sandra Schneider, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, said in an ACEP news release.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 40 million kids aged 5 to 14 will be keeping up the tradition of knocking on doors on Halloween.
When planning for the big night, the ACEP offers the following tips to adults to help them protect kids from frightful injuries:
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers more Halloween safety tips.
-- Mary Elizabeth Dallas
SOURCE: American College of Emergency Physicians, news release, Oct. 3, 2011
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