Halloween Rules For 2021

 

Everyone was more than a little spooked last Halloween as cases of COVID-19 were rising with no vaccine in sight. What a difference a year makes, Jesse Leavenworth observes:

Consumer spending on candy, costumes and decorations is expected to reach an all-time high of $10.14 billion, up from $8.05 billion in 2020, according to the National Retail Federation. On average, consumers plan to spend $102.74 on costumes, candy, decorations and greeting cards, $10 more than last year, the organization reported.

An estimated 65 percent of Americans intend to mark All Hallows Eve, which falls on a Sunday this year, with parties and trick or treating, up from 58 percent in 2020 and comparable with 68 percent in 2019 before the pandemic, according to the NRF. Households with children are much more likely to celebrate Halloween (82 percent) than those without kids (55 percent), the organization reported.

 

Vaccinated parents and their trick-or-treating tweens and teens should be feeling safer this Halloween. A majority of Americans having been vaccinated (66.7% of people 12 and older who are eligible to receive a COVID vaccine are now fully vaccinated; an additional 10% are awaiting their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, according to the CDC COVID Data Tracker) and we all have a year-and-a-half of practice avoiding contact with the coronavirus under our belts (wearing face masks, social distancing, hand washing, staying home when not feeling well, selectively congregating indoors only with those who are vaccinated and outdoors with those who are not, all help reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2).

Until a vaccine is available for children younger than 12 years old — the FDA meets on October 26 to consider approving the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use in 5 to 11-year-olds — last year’s advice for a safe Halloween still holds:

• Stick with outdoor trick-or-treating in small groups.

• Keep a safe distance from others who live outside your household.

• Avoid large groups of kids clustering around where the goodies are being handed out.

• When they get home, make sure kids wash their hands before eating any treats.

 

If kids venture indoors, pediatricians want to make sure they mask up:

If your children do attend an indoor trick-or-treat event or public festivities, be sure everyone wears face masks and observes safe physical distancing. Universal masking indoors continues to be important, since children under 12 years old are not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccines. There may be a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated children, teens, and adults at these events, and mask use reduces the risk of transmission of the COVID virus.

 

Remember that attending crowded indoor costume parties without masks, or going to a haunted house where people are crowded together (and screaming!), comes with a high risk for COVID-19 transmission:

Again, remember that outdoor parades, parties and attractions are safer than indoor public events. Rather than a haunted house, for example, consider a haunted forest or corn maze. Look for programs focused on safe ways to have fun offered by a park district, arboretum, zoo or other outdoor venues in your area. Pumpkin patches and apple orchards are other good options. Just use hand sanitizer before and after touching what you pick.

For any indoor festivities, including events ​at school, make sure everyone wears face masks. This is important regardless of vaccination status for now.

 

All of the other precautions for a safe Halloween still apply:

• Parents should always accompany young trick-or-treaters.

• Only go to homes with a porch light on.

• Never enter a home or car for a treat.

• Kids should wear costumes that are bright and reflective.

• Keep costumes short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement, or contact with flame (like a candle inside a jack-o’-lantern). Make sure shoes fit well.

• Consider using non-toxic makeup and decorative hats instead of masks.

• Don’t carry any sharp or long swords, canes, or sticks as a costume accessory.

• Remove tripping hazards and keep your home well-lit to keep visiting trick-or-treaters safe; sweep wet leaves from sidewalks and steps.

• Keep pets restrained so they don’t jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

 

The AAP warns trick-or-treaters that cars on the road are the most common threats to children on Halloween:

• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.

• Remember reflective tape for costumes and trick-or-treat bags.

• Carry a cell phone for quick communication.

• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.

• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.

• Never cut across yards or use alleys.

• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out of driveways.

• Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will!

 

And remember, kids, to share your sweet loot with your parents!

 

Read “Halloween Health & Safety Tips” from the AAP here.

 

(Google Images)

 

source http://www.thepediablog.com/2021/10/18/halloween-rules-for-2021/