When I was a little kid getting ready for trick-or-treating, the big fear was foreign objects in candy and other handouts. After Halloween, we had to go through our haul, looking for wrappers with holes or rips (or fruit with damaged skins) and throw that candy (or fruit) away — the fear was that someone had put pins or razor blades into the treat.
It seems kind of silly now. A razor blade is kind of obvious, right? No fool would bite into a miniature candy bar with a piece of metal hanging out… would they?
According to Snopes.com (one of my favorite sites for debunking urban legends, chain letters, email forwards, and other myths), this actually HAS happened. There have been less than one hundred recorded cases of people finding foreign objects in their Halloween haul since 1959 (though very few of them resulted in any injury to the candy eater). But the fear was great enough that some areas passed legislation requiring strict punishments for those caught tampering with candy and fruit handouts.
Much to my surprise, pins and other foreign objects really may be a threat to your Halloween haul! Though I think a little common sense and a careful eyeballing of your treats can go a long way to preventing any injury from this nasty trick.
When in doubt? Throw it out.
What are some other Halloween health hazards?
- Overeating… especially that sugar rush and crash. Not life-threatening, but can still make you feel miserable. Help the kids practice a little self-restraint and you’ll ALL feel better.
- Weather. How many years did your awesome costume have to hide underneath a bulky coat? The end of October can produce some COLD weather… so make sure you find ways to keep the trick-or-treaters warm. Can you decorate a coat to match the costume? Can you layer warmly under the costume, instead of over it?
- Traffic. Those dark-colored costumes make it hard for drivers to see people out walking. Make sure you carry a light or include some reflective strips in your costume… or both. If drivers can see you, there’s less of a chance they’ll hit you.
- Getting lost/getting hurt far from home. Chances are you’ve talked to your kids about where they’re going to trick-or-treat. But what happens if they take a wrong turn and can’t find their way home? What happens if somebody trips and twists an ankle and needs a pick-up? Make sure your kids carry a cell phone while they’re out trick-or-treating… unless you’re out there with them.
I love Halloween… but I want the scares to be safe, not serious!