Halloween is just around the corner and kids are getting ready to dress up in their wacky, scary, funny and adorable costumes once again.  Candies, pastries and other food received from trick or treating usually are harmless.  However, some of these may contain peanuts, almonds, pistachios and other nut varieties that could be harmful to children who have nut allergies.

While a parent or caretaker usually keeps an eye on the children and inspects their loot to check if anything may cause allergies, some candies’ ingredients are just hard to determine.  In addition, home-cooked pastries do not come labeled and unless the child is trained to ask the person giving them a cookie or cupcake what kind of ingredients were used in baking and preparing them, the risk of suffering an allergic reaction is quite high.  What’s worse is some people giving out treats sometimes don’t even bother asking the children if they have any food allergies.

Now some kids (or one their parents or guardian) carry an epinephrine auto-injector with them in case they ingest something that triggers an allergic reaction, but a lot of kids do not.  What complicates matters is that some studies indicate that peanut allergies are on the rise among kids.  On the other hand, some do not have a peanut or nut allergy but instead cannot tolerate soy or milk products.  This just goes to show that Halloween may actually pose a dangerous threat to youngsters with allergies.

So if your child or children do not have an epinephrine auto-injector with them (and actually, even if they do), the best thing they could have on their person while they go around trick or treating is a medical ID bracelet.

Medical bracelets and medical alert necklaces are unobtrusive, comfortable and durable and can help paramedics identify a child’s medical condition at once.  These make it easy for first responders to administer the correct first aid solution.  Plus, medical jewelry now comes in various shapes and designs.  Finding the right one that your son or daughter will like is no longer a problem.  Don’t wait for Halloween; give him or her peanut allergy bracelet or medical necklace right now.