2008 Press Releases

Saint Barnabas Medical Center Offers Halloween Safety Tips for Young Ghosts and Goblins 

LIVINGSTON, N.J. -- With Halloween approaching, Saint Barnabas Medical Center wants to remind parents that by following a few simple guidelines, this night of candy bars and pumpkins can be a safe and enjoyable event for their little ones.

“Please remind your children that there is safety in numbers,” says Barbara Podberesky, R.N., B.A., nursing coordinator for the Pediatric Health Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. “Go trick or treating together, which means go out together, walk together, come home together and keep an eye on each other!”

Of primary importance, says Mrs. Podberesky, is that all children have an “escort” on their Halloween rounds. A parent or older sibling should accompany youngsters on a block with familiar neighbors. Families should avoid unfamiliar or sparsely populated areas and only go to homes that have a porch or inside light on.

Other tips:

• All children should travel on a route that has been discussed and should adhere to a curfew for returning home. Trick or treaters should stay on the sidewalks if possible and avoid busy roads. When crossing the street, cross from one street corner to another instead of zigzagging back and forth in the road.
• Also, for better visibility, begin your outing while it is still light outside.
• When parents help their children to choose a costume, they should look for non-toxic make-up and masks which do not impair vision or breathing. Avoid costumes with long gowns which may trip your child. Also, choose light or brightly colored costumes for better visibility and add reflective tape. A flashlight with fresh batteries can also help light the way from home to home.
• Children should be told not to eat candy before it is inspected by a parent and candy which has been previously opened should be thrown away. Children should never eat fruit from strangers and should also avoid home-made cookies unless you know the neighbor well. Serve dinner before your child goes trick-or-treating to help control his or her appetite for candy while collecting.
• Finally, parents may consider taking children trick or treating at the local mall, or to an organized school or community party.

Since 1865, Saint Barnabas Medical Center (SBMC), located at 94 Old Short Hills Road in Livingston, is New Jersey’s oldest nonprofit, nonsectarian hospital. The 597-bed institution is one of the largest heath care providers in the state, treating more than 37,000 inpatients and over 72,000 Emergency Department patients each year. The Medical Center and the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center provide treatment and services for more than 300,000 outpatient visits annually.

SBMC is ranked among the top five percent of hospitals in the country for Overall Clinical Performance by HealthGrades and is the recipient of the HealthGrades 2008 and 2007 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical ExcellenceTM and the 2007 and 2008 HealthGrades Excellence Award™ in Cardiac Care, Bariatric Surgery, Maternity Care, and Women's Health. SBMC was also chosen as the best hospital in New Jersey and the 13th best hospital in the United States by AARP Modern Maturity magazine.  For more information on Saint Barnabas Medical Center, please visit saintbarnabas.com and select Saint Barnabas Medical Center from the facilities list or call 1-888-SBHS-123.

Date: October 3, 2008

Saint Barnabas Contact:  Samantha Anton, 973-322-5425

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