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With Halloween around the corner, the HSE’s mychild.ie has provided important safety tips and advice to ensure a fun and safe holiday for children and parents alike. From keeping an eye on Halloween costumes to administering the flu vaccine, the advice aims to minimise risks during the upcoming mid-term break.

Dr Abigail Collins, National Clinical Lead for the HSE’s Child Health Public Health Programme, emphasised the importance of both fun and safety this Halloween:

“Halloween conjures up a lot of excitement for families every year. Costumes, pumpkins, and trick-or-treating are at the heart of the celebrations. This Halloween, we are highlighting the need for children to take a vitamin D supplement during the dark winter months and sharing practical tips to reduce seasonal risks such as choking or burns. Our message is simple: keep health and safety in mind to prevent injury or illness, and limit stress during this magical time.”

Key tips to keep children safe include:

• Vitamin D Supplements: Children should take daily vitamin D supplements from Halloween until St Patrick’s Day to support healthy teeth, bones, muscles, and immune systems. Children aged 1 to 4 years need 5 micrograms, while children aged 5 to 12 years need 10 micrograms.
• Trick or Treat Supervision: Children should always be supervised by an adult during trick or treating. If in a group, having an adult at both the front and back is ideal.
• Checking Treats: Small sweets, nuts, and certain snacks can pose choking hazards for younger children. Always remove any inappropriate items from trick-or-treat bags.
• Costume Safety: Look for CE-marked costumes with ‘flame resistant’ labels, and avoid outfits with oversized shoes or trailing materials that could cause trips.
• Visibility: Ensure children wear light-coloured clothing, reflective strips, or high-visibility vests to stay visible in the dark, especially while trick-or-treating.

Dr Collins also highlighted the importance of being prepared for the winter season, urging parents to consider their child’s health over the colder months, adding:

“The mid-term break is a great opportunity to get ‘winter ready’ for all the coughs and colds that circulate this time of year. Protect your child from the flu this year with a free nasal spray flu vaccine.”

In case of accidents, such as clothing catching fire, the advice is to remember the “stop, drop and roll” technique and to immediately seek medical attention by calling 999 or 112.

For more information, parents can visit mychild.ie for comprehensive guidance on child health and safety.