Watch For Hidden Halloween Dangers

Candy, make-up and masks are essential ingredients for a happy Halloween, but they could send your trick or treater straight to the emergency room, Detroit television station WDIV reported.

One mother in the area knows firsthand what can happen with food allergies. It happened to her son, Jackson.

"Within 10 seconds he had welts forming on his face. And when I washed his face with a washcloth, the welts spread up his face. He ended up in the emergency room," said Tammy Nordbeck.

Jackson had suffered an allergic reaction to something he ate after trick or treating.

Now, Nordbeck keeps a close eye on everything her son eats.

"It kind of puts you on edge," she said.

It's especially difficult on special days like Halloween.

"Last year, everything we got in his entire bag either had milk, or nuts, or didn't have a label so we weren't sure," said Nordbeck.

Dr. James Fordyce said the hazards might be hidden. Some of the candies the station looked at were made on the same equipment that processes nuts, a potentially deadly contamination.

"Something as benign as a lollipop, or a jawbreaker, or a Sweet Tart, you wouldn't expect it to have contamination with nuts, yet the label said they are," said Fordyce, of the Dearborn Allergy and Asthma Clinic.

It's not just allergies. Experts warn that many popular candies also pose a serious choking hazard.

Certain candies should be off limits for children under 5 years old, said Deborah Niedbala of Children's Hospital of Michigan.

"Anything small, anything that doesn't melt. That's what we're concerned about," said Niedbala.

Another hidden hazard could be Halloween makeup.

"I just look for whatever says non-toxic, kid-friendly and kid-safe," said Lynn Torres, the mother of a small child. Most products are not intended for children under 14.

Be sure to test any makeup on your child's arm before Halloween, the station said. Its tester developed a rash in just minutes. Experts advise that you read the directions carefully.

Certain colors should not be used near the eyes or mouth.

Certain masks may also pose a problem. Small eyeholes make it almost impossible for your child to spot cars and other dangers. Rubber and latex masks can also cause an allergic reaction.

"If there's a question, it's not worth the risk," said Niedbala.

Some masks also make it very difficult to breathe, which could create a hazard for young children or anyone with asthma.