By Joe Hadsall
jhadsall@joplinglobe.com
Costumes used to be so much more simple.
About 20 years ago, a Darth Vader costume for Halloween consisted of a flimsy plastic mask — that barely covered your face, had huge eyeholes that never lined up and only a thread-thin piece of elastic to hold it on —and a plastic jumpsuit with a picture of Darth Vader on it.
Now, costumes are much better. You can get a good replica of a Darth Vader costume, complete with realistic light saber and a voice-changing helmet.
That realistic replica may be just as dangerous — or even more so — as those plastic jumpers. The kids may be better off wielding real light sabers.
But others are just fine, said Bob Arnce, an emergency room physician at McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital.
“Some of the costumes, they are almost like putting on an outfit,” Arnce said. “I’ve seen princess costumes that look like they have been made by a tailor. Something like that is safe.”
When browsing for your children’s costumes at your favorite Halloween supplier, there are several things you can look for. Or, if you’ve already bought this year’s outfit, there are ways to make it safer:
• The single most important thing to look for is a reflective surface, said Jo Sitton, coordinator of the Safe Kids Coalition for Jasper and Newton counties.
“We need to remember our child’s visibility,” Sitton said. “Choose light colors, or decorate the costume with reflective tape or stickers.”
Treat bags can also be decorated with reflective tape.
• In addition to reflective surfaces, have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights.
• Make sure the costume is short enough to stay out of the way of your child’s feet. That includes robes and capes.
• Ensure the costume is flame-resistant.
• Instead of a mask, choose a costume that uses face paint or a hat. Masks obstruct vision and breathing, Sitton said. If your child insists on a mask, then make sure it fits securely and has eyeholes large enough to allow full vision.
• Incorporate sturdy, well-fitting shoes into the costume.
• If the costume uses other props that resemble weapons, make sure they are soft and flexible.
While those costume tips are important for safety’s sake, Arnce said, the real danger comes from traffic accidents.
“The only terrible things I’ve seen are when kids get hit by cars,” Arnce said. “On Halloween night, we all need an extra dose of patience and caution when driving, because kids will dart right in front of you.”
The safety of a pack is important on Halloween night, Arnce said. Trick-or-treaters should go in groups, and should be monitored by a responsible adult. The smaller the kids, the bigger the group should be, he said.
Other standard safety tips apply, including:
• Choose safe houses, but don’t let children enter them — even if they appear to be welcoming Halloween. It’s best to stick to houses and neighborhoods you know.
• Don’t let children eat any treats until you’ve had a chance to inspect them and make sure they are all wrapped.
Information from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission was used in this report.
