Published on Oct 25, 2023 | 2:06 PM
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Trick-or-treating is one of the most memorable points in every child’s life, with most American adults looking back fondly at being able to go out and get free candy. With over 70% of Americans planning on participating in the holiday, it’s important to remember the safety tips that keep everyone, especially the trick-or-treaters, safe on Halloween nights
Be Mindful with Costume Accessories: When choosing a costume be mindful of masks, helmets, and other obstructions to the eyes and ears. On Halloween, this can help with your child's safety while navigating dark streets and crowded areas without additional risks of accidents from cars and crowds. It ensures clear vision, unimpeded hearing, and spatial awareness, allowing you to navigate dark streets and crowded areas without the risk of accidents. It also helps you remain aware of potential hazards, vehicles, and fellow trick-or-treaters, making for a fun and safe Halloween celebration.
Add Reflectors or More Visibility: Adding reflectors, glow sticks, or flashlights to your child can help add additional safety measures during a late-night out. Reflective, glowing, and bright elements can make you more visible on each costume to drivers and pedestrians, reducing the risk of accidents. They catch and reflect light from passing vehicles, ensuring that you stand out in the dark.
Keep it Comfortable: Comfort ensures you can fully enjoy the festivities without distraction or discomfort. It prevents chafing, irritation, and overheating, especially during prolonged wear and can help you and your child enjoy Halloween activities even longer.
Check and Review Costume Hazards: Make sure to check your child’s costume and accessories such as capes and swords to minimize the risk of tripping, stumbling, or accidents that can be caused by restricted movement or obstructed vision. Practice walking and moving beforehand to know the level your child can maneuver in their costume to help them prepare for when crowds and darkness is an added factor.
As referenced in our Candy Safety Check article, checking candy wrappers on Halloween is a vital safety measure to safeguard against tampering and other safety issues concerning food. Inspecting each treat for signs of tampering, such as opened or torn wrappers, ensures that the candy hasn't been altered or contaminated. This practice helps protect children from the extremely rare but serious risk of encountering harmful substances or objects hidden inside candies.
Additionally, by scrutinizing candy labels, parents can identify potential allergens and ensure their child's safety. This practice helps prevent allergic reactions that can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening situations. It also empowers parents to educate their children about their allergies and make informed choices, such as trading unsafe candies for alternatives or non-food treats.
Accompany Children: Traveling in groups on Halloween night is essential for safety. It provides visibility and reduces the risk of accidents, especially for children. Group travel adds an extra layer of security by ensuring that someone is aware of your whereabouts at all times. In case of unforeseen circumstances, there's immediate support and assistance from friends or family.
Carry Flashlights: It improves visibility, making you more noticeable to drivers and pedestrians in the dark. It also helps illuminate potential hazards, uneven terrain, and obstacles, reducing the risk of trips and falls. On top of that, it allows drivers an additional way of identifying you in the dark.
Group Up: Being part of a group increases visibility, making you and your companions more visible to drivers and pedestrians. It's especially important for children and teenagers who may be trick-or-treating, as it reduces the risk of accidents. Groups provide mutual support and can respond quickly in case of unexpected situations or emergencies.
Stay on Well-Lit Pathways: It enhances visibility for both pedestrians and drivers, reducing the risk of accidents and making it easier to spot potential hazards. Well-lit sidewalks provide a clear path, reducing the chances of tripping, stumbling, or falling in the dark.
Opt for a Designated Driver: It's crucial for drivers to opt for a designated driver if they plan to consume alcohol. The holiday often includes parties and celebrations where alcoholic beverages are served, and impaired driving can lead to accidents, injuries, or even fatalities. A designated driver, someone who refrains from drinking alcohol, ensures a safe and responsible ride home for everyone. It's a proactive way to prevent drunk driving, protect lives, and avoid the legal and personal consequences of driving under the influence.
Plan Out Trips: Planning out your Halloween night, even if you're not trick-or-treating, is essential for several reasons. Halloween can bring increased pedestrian activity, road closures, and parties, potentially leading to traffic congestion and unfamiliar situations. Planning your route, avoiding heavily congested areas, and being aware of road closures ensures a smoother and safer journey. It also helps prevent accidental encounters with trick-or-treaters, reduces the risk of getting lost, and allows you to have a more enjoyable evening.
Stay Alert in Neighborhoods: With an increased number of pedestrians, especially children, out and about, it's essential to be vigilant while driving or walking. Children may not always follow traffic rules, and costumes can obstruct their vision, making them less aware of their surroundings. By staying alert, drivers can react quickly to unexpected situations, and pedestrians can avoid hazards or potential accidents.
Halloween is a fond memory for any kid getting the opportunity to go trick-or-treating, so this Halloween, keep it safe and enjoy everything spooky and scary!
English graduate and Call-On-Doc’s medical resource guide, Wayne C. Hahne is an experienced and passionate medical education content expert. Through diligent research, provider interviews and utilizing the industry's leading resources for wellness information, it is Mr. Hahne’s personal mission to educate the general public on medical conditions with in-depth and easy-to-understand written guides.
Why Your Hair Falls Out More in Winter
If you’ve noticed extra shedding in the shower, on your pillow, or in your brush during the winter months, you’re not imagining it. Hair loss often increases in fall and winter, and the reasons have less to do with genetics and more to do with seasonal stress on the scalp, hormones, and overall health.
Winter changes your environment in ways that quietly affect the hair growth cycle. Understanding what’s happening inside your body can help you prevent shedding — and support healthier, stronger hair.
Cold, dry air pulls moisture out of your skin and hair. Because the hair shaft loses hydration faster in low humidity, strands become:
brittle
frizzy
prone to breakage
more likely to split
This isn’t true “hair loss” from the root — but breakage can mimic shedding.
Indoor heating makes it worse by lowering humidity even more, leading to dry scalp and fragile strands.
A dry scalp can become:
itchy
flaky
inflamed
Inflammation disrupts hair follicles, pushing more strands into the telogen (shedding) phase of the cycle.
Conditions like dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis flare in winter, which accelerates shedding.
Vitamin D plays a direct role in hair growth. In winter, sunlight exposure drops drastically, and vitamin D levels fall.
Low vitamin D is strongly linked to:
increased shedding
slower regrowth
weaker hair follicles
Many people don’t realize that winter hair loss can be a simple reflection of seasonal vitamin D deficiency.
Cold weather shifts appetite and habits. People tend to eat:
fewer fruits and vegetables
fewer protein-rich meals
more carb-heavy or comfort foods
Hair is made of keratin — a protein — so inadequate protein quickly affects the growth cycle.
Even small nutritional shifts can trigger telogen effluvium, a temporary but noticeable shedding phase.
Winter brings:
colds
flu
RSV
COVID
increased stress
poor sleep
Any illness or major stressor can trigger hair shedding 2–3 months later.
This means March hair loss might actually come from a December flu.
Winter also increases cortisol levels due to less sunlight and more indoor time, which contributes to hair cycle disruption.
Most people drink less water in winter.
But dehydration affects:
scalp health
oil production
hair shaft strength
follicle function
A dehydrated scalp can’t support healthy growth, and the hair becomes brittle and prone to breakage.
Studies show humans shed slightly more hair in fall and winter — an evolutionary response to thicker summer growth and colder weather patterns.
Seasonal shedding is normal, but winter stressors can intensify it.
Jan 23, 2026 | 4:15 PM
Read More
🔨 Why All-or-Nothing Thinking Backfires
Your brain is wired to conserve energy and avoid discomfort.
All-or-nothing routines demand maximum effort — every day, without exception. That creates pressure the brain sees as a threat.
When you inevitably slip (because you’re human), the brain reacts with:
This creates what psychologists call a failure cascade:
This cascade is why people abandon:
Perfection isn’t sustainable — and your brain knows it.
Jan 23, 2026 | 3:11 PM
Read More
Why Sugar Cravings Spike in Winter
If your sugar cravings feel stronger in January, you’re not imagining it — and you’re not doing anything wrong. Cold weather, darker days, disrupted routines, and holiday habits all create the perfect storm for increased carb and sugar cravings.
These cravings aren’t a lack of willpower. They’re biology. Your body is responding to temperature, hormones, mood, and changes in routine — all of which naturally shift during winter. Let’s break down why cravings rise this time of year and how to manage them without restriction, guilt, or harsh dieting.
Jan 22, 2026 | 2:08 PM
Read More
Why Your Hair Falls Out More in Winter
If you’ve noticed extra shedding in the shower, on your pillow, or in your brush during the winter months, you’re not imagining it. Hair loss often increases in fall and winter, and the reasons have less to do with genetics and more to do with seasonal stress on the scalp, hormones, and overall health.
Winter changes your environment in ways that quietly affect the hair growth cycle. Understanding what’s happening inside your body can help you prevent shedding — and support healthier, stronger hair.
Cold, dry air pulls moisture out of your skin and hair. Because the hair shaft loses hydration faster in low humidity, strands become:
brittle
frizzy
prone to breakage
more likely to split
This isn’t true “hair loss” from the root — but breakage can mimic shedding.
Indoor heating makes it worse by lowering humidity even more, leading to dry scalp and fragile strands.
A dry scalp can become:
itchy
flaky
inflamed
Inflammation disrupts hair follicles, pushing more strands into the telogen (shedding) phase of the cycle.
Conditions like dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis flare in winter, which accelerates shedding.
Vitamin D plays a direct role in hair growth. In winter, sunlight exposure drops drastically, and vitamin D levels fall.
Low vitamin D is strongly linked to:
increased shedding
slower regrowth
weaker hair follicles
Many people don’t realize that winter hair loss can be a simple reflection of seasonal vitamin D deficiency.
Cold weather shifts appetite and habits. People tend to eat:
fewer fruits and vegetables
fewer protein-rich meals
more carb-heavy or comfort foods
Hair is made of keratin — a protein — so inadequate protein quickly affects the growth cycle.
Even small nutritional shifts can trigger telogen effluvium, a temporary but noticeable shedding phase.
Winter brings:
colds
flu
RSV
COVID
increased stress
poor sleep
Any illness or major stressor can trigger hair shedding 2–3 months later.
This means March hair loss might actually come from a December flu.
Winter also increases cortisol levels due to less sunlight and more indoor time, which contributes to hair cycle disruption.
Most people drink less water in winter.
But dehydration affects:
scalp health
oil production
hair shaft strength
follicle function
A dehydrated scalp can’t support healthy growth, and the hair becomes brittle and prone to breakage.
Studies show humans shed slightly more hair in fall and winter — an evolutionary response to thicker summer growth and colder weather patterns.
Seasonal shedding is normal, but winter stressors can intensify it.
Jan 23, 2026 | 4:15 PM
🔨 Why All-or-Nothing Thinking Backfires
Your brain is wired to conserve energy and avoid discomfort.
All-or-nothing routines demand maximum effort — every day, without exception. That creates pressure the brain sees as a threat.
When you inevitably slip (because you’re human), the brain reacts with:
This creates what psychologists call a failure cascade:
This cascade is why people abandon:
Perfection isn’t sustainable — and your brain knows it.
Jan 23, 2026 | 3:11 PM
Why Sugar Cravings Spike in Winter
If your sugar cravings feel stronger in January, you’re not imagining it — and you’re not doing anything wrong. Cold weather, darker days, disrupted routines, and holiday habits all create the perfect storm for increased carb and sugar cravings.
These cravings aren’t a lack of willpower. They’re biology. Your body is responding to temperature, hormones, mood, and changes in routine — all of which naturally shift during winter. Let’s break down why cravings rise this time of year and how to manage them without restriction, guilt, or harsh dieting.
Jan 22, 2026 | 2:08 PM
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