Bone-chilling injury prevention tips from orthopaedic surgeons to keep scares fun, not painful
ROSEMONT, Ill., Oct. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Halloween season is filled with thrills and fun, but also potential mishaps. Pumpkin carving, costumes, unfamiliar homes, and young children traveling in darkness all provide possible scenarios for accidents and injuries. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) urges children and adults to take proper precautions to ensure a safe Halloween.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that an annual average of 3,200 Halloween-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments (2020-2023). Among the injuries:
EXPERT ADVICE
"Halloween can be spooky, but the real scare comes from the surge in preventable injuries we see in emergency departments during this festive time," said pediatric orthopaedic surgeon and AAOS spokesperson Verena M. Schreiber, MD, FAAOS. "From pumpkin carving mishaps to trick-or-treating tumbles, many Halloween injuries can be avoided with proper precautions. We urge parents to set clear safety guidelines and supervise activities like pumpkin carving. By taking simple steps – such as using specialized carving tools and cutting away from the body – families can focus on the fun of Halloween rather than an unexpected hospital visit."
SAFETY TIPS
The AAOS offers the following Halloween injury prevention tips:
Trick-or-Treating
Pumpkin Carving
Ladder Safety while Hanging Decorations
For more information on bone and joint health and injury prevention, visit OrthoInfo.org.
To schedule an interview with an AAOS expert about common musculoskeletal injuries resulting from Halloween fun, email media@aaos.org.
About the AAOS
With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the world's largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The AAOS is the trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal health. It provides the highest quality, most comprehensive education to help orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals at every career level best treat patients in their daily practices. The AAOS is the source for information on bone and joint conditions, treatments, and related musculoskeletal health care issues; and it leads the health care discussion on advancing quality.
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SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons