When it comes to safety, Halloween need not be scary

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Stories of finding razorblades and other bad things in candy may scare some Maricopa residents into calling Dr. Rick Swearingen’s urgent care requesting X-rays of their children’s Halloween candy.

“It’s just not something we do and there is no need to have bags of candy X-rayed,” said Swearingen, who is medical director for Maricopa and Ahwatukee Dignity Health Urgent Care clinics.

National and local public safety officials and medical providers said Halloween is not the horror depicted in movies and by urban myth; it is not particularly more dangerous than other nights. Still, parents and children are advised to take safety precautions.

Key to safety, the experts said, is supervising young children, planning a safe route, staying aware of surroundings and discarding unwrapped or improperly packaged items.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s executive director of the Florida regional branch Nancy McBride said, “One of the most important things that we can tell parents and kids is to make sure that younger kids are supervised and older kids stay in groups.”

McBride said Halloween is not of any particular concern because child safety should be practiced 365 days a year, but the holiday raises the risk level a little because so many kids are out after dark.

Maricopa Fire Department public information officer Brad Pitassi said parental supervision is one of the primary Halloween safety goals the fire department highlights.

He said call volume typically increases on Halloween night, but the community is stepping up and taking the initiative to take care of the little ones themselves.

“Halloween is a great family affair. Everybody gets out and enjoys a fun night, but it is one that we need to get together as a community to make sure it’s safe for everyone,” Pitassi said.

For fire department tips on what to do before Halloween, before nightfall that night, during trick-or-treating and afterward click here.

Maricopa Police Department public affairs specialist Ricardo Alvarado said Halloween is not particularly more dangerous than any other day.

“We’re most concerned with trick-or-treater’s safety with vehicle collisions” Alvarado said.

Parents and children should plan a safe route and not take the path least traveled to prevent vehicle and pedestrian accidents, he said.

For police department tips on Halloween driving safety click here.