Have a Happy (and Safe) Halloween

With COVID-19 still a serious health threat, ensuring that this Halloween will be fun – and safe – for your family requires a little advance planning and creativity. Many families will wisely choose not to trick-or-treat again this year to help reduce the risk of a COVID exposure. But that doesn't mean you can't have a spooky good time. Here are some safe ways to enjoy Halloween at home this year.

• Have a family pumpkin carving event with awards for the most artistic, most fun and most unexpected jack-o-lanterns.
• Invite friends to a virtual Halloween costume party. Consider sending out clues about your costumes in advance, let everyone guess who you are, and then reveal your costume during the virtual event.
• Turn off the lights, grab flashlights and make up a few new ghost stories.
• Watch a scary movie.
• Have a Halloween scavenger hunt that includes a witch's hat, a white sheet stolen from a ghost, a stuffed animal black cat and other Halloween-themed goodies. Many stores have party props in stock now. And, don't forget to hide some candy along the way.

If you do trick-or-treat this year, be sure you take the following precautions.

• Go door-to-door in small groups rather than in large crowds. Little ones should always be accompanied by an adult.
• Wear the right kind of mask. Costume masks are not meant to protect against the COVID virus, so be sure you everyone in your group wears proper protection.
• Stand back from doorways at least six feet except when saying "trick-or-treat" or visiting with neighbors. Quickly take the candy (or, if you are passing out treats this year, do that fast, too.)
• Remember to wait until you get home to eat the candy. Wash your hands first and inspect the goody bags to be sure every treat is safe.

A safe and healthy Halloween is the happy way to be sure there are no "boos" this year!

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