Keep little ghosts and goblins injury-free.

• Position: Halloween Health

It nearly is time for Halloween. Trick-or-treating, wearing costumes, and carving pumpkins are part of the fun for kids of all ages. However, many of these activities offer the potential for injury, cautions the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Rosemont, Ill.

Ill-fitting masks and costumes, and walking in unfamiliar areas in the dark, can lead to fractures, dislocations, sprains, contusions, abrasions, and head trauma from trips and falls. Moreover, pumpkin-carving can result in serious lacerations to the hand, as well as injuries to bones and tendons, if certain precautions are not taken.

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"When children get excited about a holiday that involves candy, they may be less cautious than usual," says orthopedic surgeon Ronald Delanois, spokesman for AAOS. "Also, Halloween tends to encourage unruly behavior, so parents and other caregivers need to be especially vigilant to ensure that kids follow basic safety guidelines whether they are trick-or-treating or pumpkin carving."

AAOS offers the following tips concerning Halloween festivities:

* Costumes should be light and bright, so youngsters clearly are visible to motorists and other pedestrians. Remember to trim costumes and bags with reflective tape and make sure children wear flame-resistant outfits that fit properly, as those that are too long may cause them to trip and fall. Children should wear sturdy, comfortable, and slip-resistant shoes. Masks and hats can impair vision, so secure hats well and consider using face makeup instead of masks.

* When trick-or-treating, children should stay in familiar neighborhoods and be accompanied by an adult at all...