Gerber Memorial Offers Halloween Safety Tips; Gives Away Free Glow Bands

Gerber Memorial Offers Halloween Safety Tips; Gives Away Free Glow Bands

Halloween is arguably most kids’ – and some adults’ – favorite holiday. With candies galore and spooky or outlandish costumes to wear, children across Michigan and Newaygo County typically look forward to an evening of trick-or-treat on Oct. 31. To promote safety, Gerber Memorial is also giving away free glow-in-the-dark wristbands to kids and families.

To help make families’ outings safer...

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...Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial Trauma Coordinator Susie Gatrell, RN, BSN, offers these simple Top 5 tips:

1. Stick to the familiar. “Families should consider trick-or-treating in their own neighborhoods because kids are less likely to get lost,” Gatrell says. “Children tend to know people in their neighborhoods, and your own neighbors are more likely to keep an eye out for kids they know.”
2. Stay visible. “Use reflectors, glow lights, flashlights and anything that can help make your child easy to see, especially if your child is wearing a darker colored costume and trick-or-treating in the evening when it’s dark,” Gatrell says.
3. Try on the costume first. “Parents should make their children practice going up steps in their costumes and if kids are wearing masks, always make sure they can see through the eye holes,” Gatrell says.
4. Signs of welcome. “Go to homes with a porch light on because that means the occupants are expecting trick-or-treaters, and it’s probably wiser to skip homes without a light on,” Gatrell says.
5. Throw away candy that looks opened. “When in doubt, throw it out,” Gatrell says.

Gerber Memorial is giving away free glow-in-the-dark wristbands for kids and parents.  They will be available during the week before Halloween at the main hospital desk, the ER entrance, at Tamarac and the Grant, Fremont, Newaygo and Hesperia medical offices while supplies last.

Gatrell’s last piece of advice: “Halloween is about families having fun with their kids and grandkids, and exercising some basic safety tips and common sense can help everyone have a good time safely.”

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