McHenry Times

State Representative Joe Sosnowski shared tips for a healthy and safe Halloween in an October 26 Facebook post, stating, "Brush up on these spook-tacular safety tips before heading out to trick-or-treat next week."

"Let's make sure everyone has a safe and fun Halloween this year," said Sosnowski, according to Facebook. "Brush up on these spook-tacular safety tips before heading out to trick-or-treat next week."

According to Sosnowski's Facebook post, he provided a link to a Republican Caucus Blog post that focuses on Halloween safety tips. The blog mentions that injuries leading to emergency room visits tend to spike on Halloween, but following safety tips can reduce the likelihood of such incidents. These tips include ensuring costumes are flame-resistant and fit properly; it suggests using nontoxic makeup instead of masks and avoiding colored contact lenses. Additionally, the blog recommends adding a child’s name, address, and phone number to their candy baskets, using the buddy system, planning a route, and setting an end time for when a child should be home.

Screenshot of State Rep. Joe Sosnowski's Oct. 26 Facebook post. | State Representative Joe Sosnowski's Facebook page

SCP Health reports that Halloween is one of the top five holidays for visits to an emergency department due to injuries or allergic reactions. Between 2007 and 2016, more than 700,000 children and teens suffered Halloween-related injuries, with nearly one in five being head injuries. To reduce potential hand and finger lacerations from pumpkin carving, SCP Health suggests taking care during the activity. To prevent bumps and bruises from children tripping on their costumes or having impaired vision through costume masks, parents should ensure that kids have well-fitting costumes without masks or with masks they can easily see through.

The Caucus blog post also provides suggestions on how to minimize the risk of trick-or-treaters being injured by vehicles. These include trick-or-treating before dark in familiar places; staying on sidewalks when possible; if walking on the street is necessary, staying to the left facing traffic; and using crosswalks only to move from one side of the street to the other.

Sosnowski has represented Illinois since his election to the Illinois General Assembly in 2010. He currently represents the 69th District. His political career began with a position on the DeKalb City Council before moving to Rockford where he served as First Ward Alderman from 2005-2010. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University according to his official biography.