Piedmont Mountainside Hospital X-Rays Spooky Trick-or-Treat Candy

Inspect candy and follow safety guidelines for a fun Halloween

JASPER, GA (Oct.23, 2006) –  Ghouls, goblins and witches will haunt the north Georgia area next week as children set out to trick-or-treat this Halloween, but monsters are not the only frightening concerns. Parents and children should be aware of possible dangers lurking around corners and in candy.
Piedmont Mountainside Hospital will be x-raying Halloween candy to keep the holiday safe and fun for everyone.  Dangerous objects such as razor blades or poison can be given to children inside candy. Inspecting each piece is important for all trick-or-treaters.

X-raying is free and open to all children who collected Halloween candy. Although the x-ray cannot detect all harmful toxins, parents can feel better about what their children are eating.

Unfortunately, candy that has been tampered with is not the only concern for trick-or-treaters this year.  Along with all the tricks and treats and holiday fun, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital would like to offer a few safety guidelines to insure a safe and fun Halloween experience.

• Sneak, slink, scare or walk on sidewalks and not in the street
• Make sure all capes, cloaks and costumes do not drag the ground
• Carry a flashlight
• Put reflective tape on all bikes, skateboards and witches brooms
• Do not visit any spooky or unlit houses
• Stay with your parents or with a group
• Never go into a stranger's house
• Don’t accept any unwrapped candy
• Plan a route
• Have Fun!

Halloween can be a magical time. Carving a pumpkin, picking out a costume and collecting candy can be a wonderful family experience. Piedmont Mountainside Hospital reminds parents and children before you go door to door - remember safety is important for a Happy Halloween. For more information on candy x-rays, contact Piedmont Mountainside Hospital at 706-301-5300.