As Halloween approaches, you may find yourself asking is it safe to have Halloween this year? The answer is yes- as long as everyone follows some basic safety measures. According to the CDC, traditional trick-or-treating is considered a high-risk activity. You may want to consider skipping trick-or-treating this year all together or start some new traditions.
But, if your family is deciding to trick-or-treat, you will have to do things a bit differently this year.
Here are the biggest risks associated with trick-or-treating:
- Joining big groups of trick-or-treaters
- Face to face exposure when going from house to house
- Touching candy, toys, doors, and other surfaces
To keep yourself and those around you safe, consider these rules when participating in traditional trick-or-treating:
Establish ground rules
Make sure that your child knows not to dig around a candy bowl and touch multiple pieces. And while it is hard to not run around neighborhoods on Halloween, you should ask kids to stay as far away from people outside of your household, to remain socially distanced.
Forgo the communal candy bowl
Having a communal candy bowl can be tricky because everyone is grabbing into the bowl for candy. We know that candy bowls can’t really be contact-free, so consider having a grab-and-go area set up in the front of your house for trick-or-treaters. Place the wrapped candy out on the table individually, allowing kids to come up and pick their favorites without touching any other pieces. If you have the time and resources, you could even create small pre-wrapped goodie bags and encourage trick-or-treaters to each take one.
Keep it clean
If you have a grab-and-go table set up, be sure to put sanitizer on the table for trick-or-treaters to use. If you need to replenish the candy, make sure to wash your hands immediately before you dig into the candy bag.
Keep the front door clear
Having kids come up to the front door will make social distancing tough, so instead, stay outside and greet trick-or-treaters from a safe distance while they get the candy you have on your table display!
Mask Up
Halloween was made for masks! Try making the mask a part of your child’s costume by finding one that matches the theme. Remember- be careful when painting a mask, as inhaling certain paint fumes can be extremely dangerous.
Stay small
If you are venturing out into the neighborhood, keep the group you are with small. If you want to keep some company, consider keeping it to only one other family. It also may be safer to stay closer to home this Halloween. We know that getting the most candy is usually the goal, but if you have developed a hub with your neighbors, then stick just to them.
Some common questions:
Should I disinfect my child’s candy?
Since most Halloween candies are individually wrapped, the risk of transmission from touching candy is relatively low. If you really want to be careful though, let the candy sit out for 48-72 hours. Just be sure to have a stash of candy on deck for the kids to dive into that night!
Should I answer the door for trick-or-treaters?
You are not a holiday grinch if you decide to skip handing out candy this year. The safest thing that you can do to reduce your risk of getting sick is to limit interactions with other people. If you do decide to hand out candy from your door though, make sure that you are cleaning your hands in between each trick-or-treater and wearing a mask that covers your mouth and nose.
Should I travel to another neighborhood to trick-or-treat?
The short answer is no. Officials at the CDC say that traveling to a different location for trick-or-treating or any sort of Halloween event is one of the riskiest things you can do this year. This is because each neighborhood has its own infection and spread rate and when you travel to these locations, you run the risk of creating an outbreak in your own area.
The bottom line is that there is no one right way to do Halloween this year. What works for one family, may not work for the other. If you do decide to go out this year, just be sure to follow these 3 rules: social distance, mask up, and keep your hands clean- and the rest is up to you, your family, and your neighbors!
If you have any questions or concerns, please call our office at 407-348-2222.
If you are deciding to stay in, click here to read about ways to celebrate while staying home.