American Academy of Pediatrics: Halloween's true dangers have nothing to do with candy

There is a new article out by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), warning parents that worrying about all that candy on Halloween may be missing the mark.

While of course we all worry about candy that has been tampered with, not to mention the sheer volume of candy that our little darlings might want to ingest, the AAP says the most common problems on Halloween have to do with eye injuries, burns, and car accidents.

Got your attention? Good. The AAP warns that adult supervision is the primary key to safety on Halloween and also issues the following guidelines for a healthy, happy Spook Night:

*Costumes, wigs and accessories should be made of flame-resistant fabrics. Candles and jack-o'-lanterns that glow on porches and walkways can ignite flammable costumes, especially baggy ones.

*To help avoid injuries from falls, select soft, flexible props whenever possible. Any swords, canes or sticks, if used, should not be sharp or too long. Masks impair vision, so encourage trick-or-treaters to dress up in hats and nontoxic makeup instead.

*Flashlights, along with bags or costumes outlined with reflective tape, will make spooky revelers more obvious to motorists.

*Parents should accompany children walking door-to-door, and ensure that trick-or-treating is confined to familiar areas. Stick to sidewalks, cross at corners and avoid darting from house to house. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing the traffic.

*When trick-or-treaters arrive home, check their candy. Discard spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items, but realize that tampering is rare.

Want to know more about Halloween safety? Read here.