Have a Fun and Safe Halloween
Today is Halloween and many children (and adults!) will be out trick or treating and having a good this evening. Believe it or not, ergonomics has a role in how safe and successful your evening will be. In looking at the tips provided by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, a few of them are based on human factors and ergonomics principles. I thought I’d share their tips with you. Have a great Halloween!
Flame Resistant Costumes: When purchasing a costume, masks, beards, and wigs, look for the label Flame Resistant. Although this label does not mean these items won’t catch fire, it does indicate the items will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once removed from the ignition source. To minimize the risk of contact with candles or other sources of ignition, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.
Costume Designs: Purchase or make costumes that are light and bright enough to be clearly visible to motorists.
- For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights. Bags or sacks should also be light colored or decorated with reflective tape.
- Carry flashlights to easily see and be seen
- Costumes should be short enough to prevent children from tripping and falling.
- Children (and adults) should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Children should avoid wearing Mother’ s high.
- Hats and scarfs should be tied securely to prevent them from slipping over children’s eyes.
- Apply a natural mask of cosmetics rather than have a child wear a loose-fitting mask that might restrict breathing or obscure vision. If a mask is used, however, make sure it fits securely and has eyeholes large enough to allow full vision.
- Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be of soft and flexible material.
Pedestrian Safety:
- Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or an older, responsible children
- All children should WALK, not run from house to house and use the sidewalk if available,
- Caution children against running out from between parked cars, or across lawns and yards where ornaments, furniture, or clotheslines present dangers.
Treats
- Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has examined them carefully for evidence of tampering.
- Carefully examine any toys or novelty items received by trick-or-treaters younger than three years of age. Do not allow young children to have any items that are small enough to present a choking hazard or that have small parts or components that could separate during use and present a choking hazard.