Halloween safety:
Spooky season is here and there are many great ways to celebrate! While Halloween this year is looking more like years past, it’s important to take the necessary safety measures to protect our community from illness. While state and local guidance should continue to be followed, we’ve listed some additional recommendations on ways that you can make sure this Halloween is both safe and fun!
Trick or Treat Outside:
COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses are much less likely to spread outdoors than indoors. Indoor spaces are more likely to be crowded and offer less ventilation, allowing respiratory illnesses to spread more easily.
Gather in Small Groups:
Be sure to keep space between the members of other households and your own and avoid large crowds or lines.
Wear a Mask:
Whether you are celebrating inside or outside, wearing a mask that covers both the mouth and nose can greatly decrease the spread of COVID-19. If your child decides to wear a costume mask, it is important to understand that costume masks are not a suitable replacement for a face mask. However, wearing a face mask under a costume mask may cause difficulty breathing, especially if your child has asthma or another underlying condition. Instead, consider getting a facemask that matches your child’s costume.
Regularly Wash Your Hands:
Bring hand sanitizer with you as you trick or treat and wash or sanitize your hands regularly. This includes before and after eating or drinking and before or after touching common surfaces such as a candy basket.
Offer pre-packaged treats:
If you are hosting a gathering or providing treats to trick-or-treaters, consider offering pre-packaged goods to avoid spreading illness. Laying them out in an easy grab-and-go fashion can also prevent long lines or clusters of people.
General Halloween Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips:
- Leave the house with a plan and communicate a designated meeting spot in case members of your group become separated.
- Teach your children how to call you or 911 in case they become lost.
- Give each member of your group matching glowsticks to easily spot them while you are out.
- Add bright or reflective colors to your child’s costume to make them more visible to drivers.
- Carry flashlights for visibility.
- Ensure your child’s costume does not block their vision, especially if they are wearing a hood or costume mask.
- Make sure your child wears shoes that fit well and that their costume is an appropriate length to avoid tripping
- Ensure your children wait before crossing any road, even if it appears there are no cars coming.
- If you are driving, proceed through trick-or-treating areas with extra caution and spend extra time scanning for pedestrians and children at crosswalks and intersections.
- Double-check all treats your child receives to ensure the packaging is sealed and has not been opened.