The Alabama Department of Public Health has released some advice on how to stay safe and healthy this Halloween.
ADPH is encouraging families to find safer alternatives to traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating this year. If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, ADPH said you should not participate in in-person Halloween activities.
ADPH recommends parents weigh the risks of certain holiday activities before participating in them. The department broke several activities into three categories: Higher Risk, Moderate Risk and Lower Risk.
Higher Risk Activities:
- Traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating with shared candy bowls
- Trunk-or-treating events
- Crowded indoor events
Moderate Risk Activities:
- No-touch trick-or-treating
- Good bags placed outside for pickup
- Outdoor costume parades
- Outdoor movie night
Lower Risk Activities:
- Pumpkin carving at home
- Outdoor, distanced pumpkin carving with friends
- Decorating at home
- Outdoor scavenger hunt
- Virtual costume contest
- Movie night at home
Additionally, ADPH advises that traditional safety precautions should still be taken regardless of how you choose to celebrate Halloween. Some safety measures they suggest include the following:
- Be sure costumes, wigs and accessories are flame-resistant.
- Wear protective face coverings made up of two or more layers of breathable fabric instead of a costume mask. Face coverings can be decorated with themes, too.
- Add reflective tape to costumes.
- Do not wear decorative contact lenses; they can cause eye injuries.
- Be careful to prevent accidental cuts when carving pumpkins.
- Make sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles.
- Never walk near lit candles or luminaries and avoid distraction from electronic devices.
- Keep candle-lit jack-o’-lanterns away from doorsteps, walkways, landings and curtains.
- Prepare grab-and-go goodie bags for no-touch pickup outside.
- Consider providing non-food treats such as crayons and coloring books.
- Examine treats for choking hazards before allowing them to be consumed; limit the amount of sugary and sticky candies consumed.
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