Have a Safe (and Fun!) Halloween This Year With Some Doctor-Approved Safety Tips
1) Check your local numbers.
Before you start making any plans this Halloween, open up your computer. "The starting point is to know how prevalent Covid is in your community," Dr. Sandra Kesh, deputy medical director and infectious disease specialist at Westmed Medical Group in Westchester, New York, tells Woman's Day. Go to your state's Department of Health website to track how much community spread there is in your area. "In areas where there's high spread, you don't want to engage in any activities with anyone outside of your household," Dr. Kesh says.
2) Mask up.
Wearing a mask in public places can save lives, and Halloween is no exception. If you plan on leaving the house, put on a mask.
3) Wash your hands.
Whether you're preparing candy to pass out or preparing to dig into some treats yourself, hand hygiene is of the utmost importance. Be sure to give them a thorough wash, and carry hand sanitizer with you when you're on the go.
4) Beware of trunk-or-treating.
“You have to be careful," Dr. Kesh says of trunk-or-treat, a trick-or-treating alternative where kids go from car to car in a parking lot gathering candy. "Even though it’s outdoors, you have to plan everything the right way, and if you have a large group of kids and people are hanging out at their cars talking thats where something can go bad.” Remember to maintain social distance even if you are participating.
5) Consider staying home.
Of course trick-or-treating is a wonderful Halloween tradition, but if it's not safe, it's not safe. And you can still have fun at home. "Do things with your family or home pod," Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist at NYU Langone, tells Woman's Day. "If you can, avoid interacting with other people. You can still make it fun by carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your own household." You can also watch Halloween movies, play games, have a scavenger hunt, tell spooky stories, or decorate the house, just to name a few.
6) Avoid haunted houses.
"Haunted houses are an absolute no in my opinion," Dr. Burgert says. And Dr. Kesh agrees, adding that ,"haunted houses have groups of kids going inside, and the masks come off, and people are screaming. It doesn’t take long for someone who's infected to contaminate the airspace."
7) Individually package candy.
If you want to pass out candy on Halloween, don't put it all in one bowl. Instead, pre-package a few pieces in individual bags, and spread those out so kids can easily grab one.
If you want to avoid all contact — and have some craft skills — consider making a candy pallet, like this from Arrow Fastener.
No matter you method, Dr. Kesh reminds people that "hand hygiene before you prepare the bags is important." She also recommends leaving a sign that says each bag has the same items inside, so kids don't have to pick them all up to discover what's inside and find the "best bag."
8) Make sure the adults are paying attention.
"I think the responsibility is more on the adults here," Dr. Burgert says. "Kids get so excited, and it’s going to be really hard for them to remember social distancing rules." Especially if kids run into classmates who they haven't seen in person due to virtual schooling, it will be especially hard for them to remember safety protocols, and that's why it's important for adults to be vigilant in reminding kids what to do to stay safe if they go trick-or-treating.
9) Costume masks aren't enough.
No matter what you choose to dress up as on Halloween, there's one thing you should know: "A Halloween mask is not a replacement for a safety mask," Dr. Kesh says. That means even if your costume includes a spooky mask of its own, that mask isn't enough to keep yourself and others safe, so it's necessary to wear a face mask under your costume mask.
10) Stay outside.
"The good thing about Halloween is it's outside primarily," Dr. Burgert says. "And being outside is one of the best things we can do to prevent illness spread. If we’re wearing a mask and we’re outside we’ve got a pretty good shot and not getting infected or spreading infections."
That means keeping any small gatherings outdoors and making sure trick-or-treaters aren't funneled into any tight spaces, like a small porch, if you're putting out candy.
11) Lay down the law.
If you're planning to have a small group of people over for Halloween, it's important to have ground rules and to make those rules known. "It's not unreasonable to do a temperature check at the door," Dr. Kesh says, adding that it's important to tell people what the rules are, including wearing a mask and maintaining distance from others. "You have to keep your mask on, you have to keep your distance, and if not you could be asked to leave," she says.
12) Keep groups small.
Whether you're having a few people over to your backyard or you're taking kids trick-or-treating, it's important to keep groups small. "I would say have no more than three to four kids in a group," Dr. Kesh says. "And kids whose families have been staying safe, no one is symptomatic, and no one in the household has Covid."
13) Choose a smart costume.
Opt for face paint rather than a mask so she can see better, says Sue Adair, director of education at Goddard Schools nationwide. Keep the hems short to avoid trips and falls, and make sure sure shoes fit well. And try to work a glow-in-the-dark necklace or flashlight into the getup.
14) Check your town's official trick-or-treating hours.
Check the preset trick-or-treating hours in your neighborhood by visiting your town's website or calling town hall. Drivers tend to be more cautious when munchkins en masse are on the streets, but it doesn't hurt to remind all of the drivers in your household to remain cautious and drive slowly throughout the community.
15) Agree on a route ahead of time.
Plan and review with your children the route which is acceptable to you. Before leaving home, agree on a route, a number of houses you—or just your child, if she's trick-or-treating alone—will visit, and a curfew. It's a good idea for older children to take cell phones along. A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
16) Beware of unwrapped treats.
Throw away any treats that are unwrapped, loosely wrapped, damaged or homemade. Then slowly walk away from the candy—your little goblin can take it from there.
17) Make sure your kids are reflective.
Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
18) ID your little ones.
Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
19) Watch those wigs.
When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, look for and purchase only those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
20) Beware of dangerous props.
Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be sure they do not appear authentic and are soft/flexible to prevent injury.
21) Be flashlight ready.
Flashlights for all! Plan ahead to use only battery powered lanterns or chemical lightsticks in place of candles in decorations and costumes—and make sure to obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
22) Ensure a safe porch.
Take extra effort to eliminate tripping or other hazards on your porch and around your property. Consider fire safety when decorating. Do not overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting or special effects.
23) Teach your kids how to call 9-1-1.
Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost, and openly discuss appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween time.
24) Have non-candy alternatives on hand.
Consider purchasing individually packaged healthy food alternatives (or safe non-food treats) for those who visit your home, in case of allergies.
25) Make sure your pumpkins aren't safety hazards.
Always keep jack-o'-lanterns away from drapes, decorations, flammable materials or areas where children will be standing or walking. Better yet, use flameless LED candles instead of real flames.
26) Prepare your pets.
Confine, segregate or otherwise prepare household pets for an evening of frightful sights and sounds; all animals should wear collars and proper I.D. tags.
27) Practice street safety.
Always use the sidewalk (if no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic) and never cut across yards or use alleys. Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations, and always walk. Never run across a street. Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks—don't assume the right of way as motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters.
28) Let an adult check treats at home.
Never enter a stranger's home or car for a treat. Never consume food items or drinks that may be offered. No treats are to be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an adult at home. Adults should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
29) Eat smart.
A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats. Try to apportion treats for the days following Halloween. Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items that can cause choking (such as hard candies), are given only to those children of an appropriate age.
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Covid-19 might mean Halloween looks different, but it doesn't have to be any less fun.