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As Halloween creeps closer, the American Red Cross provides safety tips to make sure the day of fright brings more treats than tricks.
With COVID-19 still on the rise, Dr. Anthony Fauci announced on CNN that it would be safe for children to participate in the time-honored tradition of trick-or-treating this year.
“Trick-or-treating is back this Halloween, however the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic means there are extra factors to consider when planning your activities,” Regional Communications Director for the American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast Region, Brittney Rochell told the Houston Daily.
Among their tips, the American Red Cross focused on urging safety related to COVID-19, night-time awareness and stranger danger.
“Make your cloth mask part of your costume,” Rochell said. “A costume mask is not a safe substitute for a cloth mask. Avoid wearing a costume mask over a cloth mask as it can make breathing difficult.”
Other tips for a pandemic-safe holiday included carrying hand sanitizer, social distancing, avoiding heading out in large groups and avoiding indoor events with higher risk of transmission.
For general safety, the organization said to “Make sure trick-or-treaters can see and be seen,” plan the routes in advance and only visit homes with the porch light on.
Individuals planning on welcoming trick-or-treaters to their home should hand out treats outdoors and avoid direct contact by setting up an area with individually bagged treats for kids to take, Rochell said.
According to People, the American Academy of Pediatrics data shows school-aged children accounted for 25% of new COVID-19 cases. Nearly 220 million Americans are estimated to be involved in Halloween preparations, with per-person spending to top $100 for the first time ever, according to a report by The Shelf.
The American Red Cross invites residents to download the free Red Cross First Aid app in the case of a Halloween mishap as well as the Emergency app for severe weather alerts.