Halloween Fun Comes With a Few Common Injuries
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, which means more time for pumpkin carving, costume parties and trick-or-treating across Maryland. It also means more cut fingers, twisted ankles and skin reactions than almost any other night of the fall.
Most Halloween mishaps are minor, and you can handle many of them at home. Some need a provider’s attention, and a few need the emergency room. This guide walks you through each one so you know where to go if something goes wrong.
If you do need care, every ExpressCare location is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., including Halloween night, with exception of our Salisbury location which is open until 7 p.m.
Pumpkin Carving Cuts
Pumpkin carving is one of the most common causes of hand injuries around Halloween. A sharp kitchen knife can slip on the slick inside of a pumpkin and land in your palm or finger. To lower the risk, let kids draw the design and scoop the seeds while an adult does the cutting. Carving kits with small serrated tools are also safer than a chef’s knife.
How to Treat a Minor Cut at Home
Rinse the cut under clean running water, then press firmly on it with a clean cloth or gauze. Keep steady pressure for 10 minutes without lifting to check. Once the bleeding stops, cover the cut with a clean bandage.
When a Cut Needs Urgent Care
Visit urgent care if the cut keeps bleeding after 10 minutes of pressure, the edges pull apart, or it is deep enough to see fat or tissue. You should also get seen if you feel numbness or can’t bend your finger normally. Our providers treat cuts, sprains and minor fractures every day.
Any cut is also a good reason to check your tetanus status. Adults need a booster every 10 years, or sooner for a deep or dirty wound. ExpressCare offers tetanus vaccinations at our clinics, so you can take care of both in one visit.
Trips, Falls and Sprains on Trick-or-Treat Night
Dark sidewalks, uneven porch steps and excited kids make falls one of the most common Halloween injuries. Long costumes catch under feet, and masks can block side vision. Choose costumes that end above the ankle, swap masks for face paint, and give every child a flashlight or glow stick so drivers can see them too.
Caring for a Sprain at Home
For a mild twist, rest the joint, apply ice wrapped in a towel for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, and keep it raised above heart level. An elastic wrap can help with swelling, and over-the-counter pain relievers can ease discomfort.
When to Get an X-Ray
Visit urgent care if you can’t put weight on the ankle or foot, the area looks misshapen, or swelling and bruising get worse over the next day. A sprain and a small fracture can look alike from the outside, and an X-ray tells the difference. Many ExpressCare clinics offer on-site X-ray. Since radiology availability can vary, call your preferred location before you head in.
Costume Makeup and Face Paint Reactions
Face paint, fake blood and costume adhesives can irritate skin, especially on kids or anyone with sensitive skin. A reaction usually shows up as redness, itching, small bumps or a burning feeling where the product touched. To avoid surprises, test a small dab on the inside of your arm a few days before Halloween, and wash all makeup off before bed.
Skip decorative contact lenses unless an eye care provider fitted them for you. Lenses sold without a prescription can scratch the eye or cause an infection.
When to Get Seen
Mild redness often fades once you wash the product off and apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer. If the rash spreads, blisters, or still itches after a day or two, a provider can help. Many skin and eye concerns qualify for an ExpressCare telemedicine visit, available 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., so you can get care without leaving the house.
Candy Concerns: Allergies and Choking
Fun-size candy often hides peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat or soy, and many small bars skip the full ingredient label. If your child has a food allergy, sort the haul together at home before anyone eats a piece. Set aside anything without a clear label, and keep your child’s epinephrine auto-injector with you on the trick-or-treat route.
Hard candy, gumballs and small toys are choking hazards for young children. Hand toddlers age-appropriate treats instead.
Mild Reaction or Emergency?
A few hives or a little itching around the mouth with no other symptoms may count as a mild reaction. An ExpressCare provider can evaluate it and help you plan next steps. Watch closely on the way, since allergic reactions can get worse fast.
Call 911 right away for trouble breathing, wheezing, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, repeated vomiting, dizziness or fainting. These are signs of anaphylaxis. If your child has a prescribed auto-injector, use it and then call 911. Call 911 for choking that does not clear on its own as well.
Don’t Let Flu Season Crash the Party
Halloween parties, crowded school events and shared candy bowls arrive right as flu season picks up. A flu shot takes a couple of weeks to build full protection, so late October is a good time to get yours before holiday travel and family gatherings begin.
ExpressCare offers flu shots at all locations. Walk in or reserve your spot online. If fever, body aches or a cough show up after the festivities, our clinics also offer rapid flu, COVID-19 and RSV testing so you can find out what you’re dealing with.
When to Go to the ER Instead
Urgent care handles most Halloween injuries, but some situations need emergency care. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for a head injury with confusion, vomiting or loss of consciousness. The same goes for a broken bone that pushes through the skin, bleeding that won’t slow with firm pressure, a severe burn, or any sign of anaphylaxis.
Not sure which one fits? Our guide to emergency department vs. urgent care breaks it down.
ExpressCare Is Open on Halloween Night
If a cut, sprain or rash cuts your Halloween short, you don’t have to wait until Monday to see your doctor. ExpressCare is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the last walk-in at 8:45 p.m. We have locations across Maryland, from Baltimore County and Harford County to Prince George’s County and the Eastern Shore.
For younger trick-or-treaters, our Children’s Urgent Care locations in Westminster and Bel Air focus on pediatric care. Walk in or reserve your spot at the location nearest you, and get back to the fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Halloween injuries can urgent care treat?
ExpressCare Urgent Care treats cuts and lacerations needing stitches, ankle and wrist sprains, minor fractures, skin rashes from face paint, mild allergic reactions, and tetanus concerns. Onsite X-ray, labs, and a pharmacy are available at most locations.
Do I need to call ahead for an X-ray?
Yes. X-ray availability varies by location, so call your nearest ExpressCare before you arrive to confirm radiology is open for your visit.
Is ExpressCare open on Halloween night?
Yes. ExpressCare Urgent Care is open 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. every day, including Halloween. The last walk-in is accepted at 8:45 p.m.
Can I handle a face paint rash without coming in?
For a mild rash, washing the area and using an antihistamine often helps. If it spreads or blisters, use ExpressCare telehealth from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. to show a provider the rash and get treatment from home.