Mercy injury prevention expert explains how to have a safe Halloween for kids with allergies

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Halloween can be fun, but for kids with allergies, it can be dangerous if you’re not careful. Mercy Leigha McKinney’s Injury Prevention Specialist says it’s crucial to stay safe if your child has allergies.

“I just like to educate parents and let them know that they need to first be aware of what their child’s allergies are, which most parents are already aware of, and then make sure your child is very aware of what allergies they have,” McKinney said.

It’s important to make sure your child is aware of their allergies and doesn’t snack while trick-or-treating. Bringing alternative snacks may help.

“Make sure your kids are very aware of what they are allergic to and that they don’t actually eat that candy the moment they get it. Because when you get candy, you get really excited, you get really excited because you want to eat it, but if your child wants to eat that candy right away, maybe you have a snack on hand to trade for it,” McKinney said.

It’s also a good idea to keep an EpiPen on hand in case it’s needed. It’s also a great idea to have alternative candies that you can swap with your child.

“If you have kids who are really excited to dig into their candy, have them spill everything right away and then you’ve got something like a witch swap. And if there is a bad alternative, the witch will come and replace the candy. It’s really fun for kids to see this little fun side of the holiday. So you can do a witch swap, have them swap out their candy for something that’s a better alternative, like your more allergy-free yummy snack,” McKinney said.

Families who distribute candy may also have alternatives. Instead of candy, toys and trinkets can help children feel included.

“Halloween in general is something that children love. It’s a truly fun holiday for any kid because who doesn’t love candy and who doesn’t want to dress up? But for kids with allergies, this can be really isolating because you may not have that alternative when large, large groups of kids come to your home, and it can be a little hurtful for the kids, especially kids who really want to participate. , but they have medical conditions or severe allergies that don’t allow them to, so just having that alternative is a really inclusive thing for our community,” McKinney said.

Teal pumpkins indicate that a child has allergies or that the household is allergy-free. Looking for options like these can help make Halloween fun and inclusive for everyone.

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