For parents with children with allergies, Halloween can be a hair-raising time, and it’s not because of the scary decorations or costumes. Instead, it has everything to do with Halloween allergies. When a child has allergies, especially severe allergies, Halloween can bring with it some frightening health risks. While these parents are always on high alert, during Halloween, there are much more allergy triggers to watch out for and potentially handle.
Avoid allergens and keep your family safe this Halloween by checking out these helpful tips to help you deal with common Halloween allergies.
• If your child has an allergy to latex, make sure you check the labels and tags before you buy any mask, make-up, accessories, and costumes. Many of these items contain latex, so check before you purchase to ensure there are no unexpected reactions.
• If your child has food allergies, make sure you read all of the labels on your child’s candy before you allow them to have any. Also, if your child’s allergies are life-threatening, ensure that they understand that they shouldn’t eat any candy without asking first.
• If you are reusing a costume that has been packed away, it is strongly recommended that the old costume is washed in hot water before they are reused. Costumes packed away for months can be covered with dust mites, which can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms.
• You can participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project if you want everyone to know that you are an allergy-friendly home. Also, look out for these pumpkins when you are out trick-or-treating as they will alert you to which households are safe for your child since they offer food-allergen free treats.
• Keep an ear out for wheezing when your child is out running around getting treats, or when they are exploring a haunted house. Both can put your child at risk for an asthma attack. Also, if your child has an allergy to mold, running around may kick up dead leaves, which can set off their allergies or asthma.
• The best rule of thumb is always to be prepared with your child’s medication, inhalers, and epinephrine auto-injectors when you are attending a Halloween party or are out trick-or-treating; especially if your child’s allergies are life-threatening. You never can tell when a reaction is going to occur, so it’s best to be prepared.
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