Guide to safe trick-or-treating
It’s that spooky time of year again where kids can dress up, get candy and have fun. 2020 has been full of many surprises and a Halloween disaster should not be one of them.
I love going trick-or-treating every year. It’s a great time for me to get with my friends and get free candy. This year though, things are going to be different.
Some people may feel comfortable to go trick-or-treating, while others may just prefer to stick with a safer option and stay home with family or friends.
Here are a couple of tips for those who go out and for those who stay in.
For those who feel safe going door to door and getting candy, here are some tips for you:
- Wear a mask
- Wear gloves
- Maintain a six foot distance with other trick-or-treaters
- Make sure you don’t have any symptoms (fever, couch, shortness of breath, loss of taste and smell), and please stay home if you do
For those who will not be trick-or-treaters, here are some tips for handing out candy:
- Wear a mask
- Wear gloves
- Create a fun way to distribute candy while staying six feet away
- Decorating a long PVC pipe to send candy down
- Leave a “take one” bucket out
- Only hand out individually wrapped candy
- Put out tape or signs to ensure a six foot distance between the trick-or-treaters
These are the most basic rules, but they are important. It’s the best way to ensure your safety and the safety of others around you.
If trick-or-treating isn’t something you want to do this year, here are some ideas and tips for you:
- Buy candy just for yourself, friends and family (or whoever you spend Halloween with)
- Halloween movie marathon
- Sleepover (with friends or family that you trust)
- Read a scary book
- Star gaze in your backyard (It’ll be the first full blue moon on Halloween in 76 years)
I know as a teen, that kids and other teens don’t care as much for safety guidelines but it’s important for us to follow them. Some people are more at risk than others and we need to ensure that we limit the spread of COVID.
There are many more things you can do this year on Halloween night that are lower risk. No matter what, steer clear from large groups of people and wash your hands before consuming anything.
The CDC has put out a list of low risk, medium risk and high risk activities on their website. Athens’ Flagpole has also recommended suggestions for safe trick-or-treating. Please take into consideration that no matter how much safety you put into activities there is still a small chance of contracting COVID-19. Be spooky, but be safe.
