Safety Tips for Celebrating Halloween
During Halloween, safety is a top priority for families, schools, businesses, and communities. Amid the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, figuring out how to safely celebrate this holiday is more essential than ever. COVID-19 has added extra concerns that will inevitably affect Halloween participation, such as trick-or-treating and gatherings. An adult or child who wants to enjoy holiday festivities should plan on implementing a few extra precautions this year.
Non-Traditional Ways to Distribute Candy
Classic treat-or-treating includes children knocking on doors and receiving candy from neighbors. This creates plenty of touchpoints, which can be a problem during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many lawmakers and disease prevention authorities from New Jersey and other states recommend that houses distribute treats in contactless ways. This includes spreading pre-packaged candy on a long table that is placed at the end of a yard or driveway. Children should be advised to take items from the table without touching any other objects. Parents should have their children wait two days to touch the candy packages again.
Hand sanitizer made from at least a 60 percent alcohol destroys germs on the skin. Trick-or-treaters should carry hand sanitizer and use it between house visits. Homeowners who are giving out candy may want to include hand sanitizer products on their tables for children and adults collecting treats.
Practice Social Distancing
Children may forget to stay at least six feet apart from anyone who does not live in their households. To make it less tempting for them to congregate with non-household friends, parents should trick-or-treat in very small groups of family members.
At other events, such as trunk-or-treating opportunities or harvest festivals, social distancing should remain a constant practice. If it is not reasonable to social distance at an event, participants may want to consider celebrating in different ways. People who attend events should plan to limit the duration of their visits to reduce their exposure to germs.
Should I Wear a Halloween Mask?
Many Halloween costumes include masks; however, these types of masks are usually made out of hard or flexible plastic. These masks do not protect against COVID-19. Costumed children and adults should always wear regular face masks alone or underneath Halloween-style masks. A proper face mask should cover both the nose and the mouth for maximum protection.
Is it Safe to Attend Halloween Parties?
Going to indoor Halloween parties can be fun, but having too many people in an enclosed space may be impractical during the COVID-19 pandemic. In New Jersey, indoor celebrations of 25 or more people are not conducive to stopping the spread of COVID-19.
On the other hand, outdoor celebrations in very large venues can reach a maximum of 500 attendees. Therefore, some outside events or parades may be appropriate for families as long as they abide by safety protocols.
Avoid Haunted Houses
Although many people look forward to visiting haunted houses, the basic setup of a haunted house arrangement makes it tough to social distance. This puts both the haunted house actors and participants in difficult situations.
Haunted outdoor events, like hayrides and corn mazes, are safer if guidelines are in place. Actors should not approach or attempt to touch visitors.
How can I Celebrate Virtually?
Online parties are safer than in-person events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some families and organizations are arranging online Halloween parties so children can dress up and show off their creative costumes with friends. Attending a virtual event gives children the freedom to enjoy Halloween without worrying about trick-or-treating, social distancing, and hand sanitizing.
Safer Alternatives
Another alternative to trick-or-treating for children is to spend time decorating the house. They can still dress up in their favorite attires. Carving pumpkins under adult supervision, hanging lights with parental help, and drawing pictures are better alternatives. Parents can also have a safe movie night on Halloween instead of going out. These variations may end up becoming family traditions, especially if children prefer them to routine trick-or-treating.
Make Halloween Treats
Children can make their own treats this year instead of traditional trick-or-treating. Many websites advertise easy recipes that are perfectly suited for children of all ages. These can include no-bake cookies or healthier snacks. Spending time at home in the kitchen with loved ones is a safe way to celebrate the holiday. It also limits the chances of a child with serious allergies inadvertently eating candy containing allergens, like soy, nut, egg, milk, or gluten.
Other Safety Precautions
Although guidelines related to COVID-19 are important, there are other precautions that should be practiced. Children should wear light-colored clothing and neon bands when trick-or-treating so they can easily be seen by drivers to avoid pedestrian accidents. Motorists should be mindful if they plan to drive on Halloween in order to avoid car accidents as well.
Homes that participate in neighborhood trick-or-treating must clear their sidewalks to minimize dangerous slip and fall accidents. The same holds true for businesses hosting downtown trick-or-treating or other Halloween activities.
If a person is injured in an accident, they should contact a lawyer right away to explore their legal options.
Highland Park Personal Injury Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr Protect Clients Injured by Negligent Parties
It is extremely important to practice safety during holiday events, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you become injured during Halloween, do not hesitate to speak to one of our Highland Park personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr. Our lawyers advocate for injured accident victims. Call us at 732-537-8570 or complete our online form for a free consultation. Located in Highland Park, New Jersey, we serve clients throughout New Brunswick, Somerset, Piscataway, Edison, South River, Sayreville, Metuchen, East Brunswick, South Plainfield, Fords, Middlesex, Old Bridge, Iselin, Bound Brook, Perth Amboy, and Colonia.
