Halloween is just around the corner. With the effectiveness of the covid-19 vaccine, we are in a much better position this coming holiday season when compared to last year. However, this year we have the extremely contagious Delta variant that is giving this virus longevity. While we await upcoming booster shots to further give immunity for these mutating variants, there is still some caution that is needed for this upcoming Halloween. Here are some safety tips for Halloween 2021.

COVID-19 DANGERS

Fortunately, the large majority of vaccinated people are not contracting the virus, and the majority of those who have gotten sick have not become seriously ill. However, many kids are still not vaccinated. The vaccine is only currently available for children over 12 years of age. Even if your child is vaccinated, it is possible that he or she can spread it to someone else who isn’t. Each family has to personally decide for the safety of their family. Some have chosen to have a scavenger-style hunt in their backyard giving kids clues leading to candy. This could be a safer alternative to prevent interacting with those outside of the household.

Otherwise, it is encouraged to maintain the current social distancing practices by the CDC. For those who are fully vaccinated, you can read about what this means for you on the CDCs website for those who are vaccinated.

TRICK OR TREAT DANGERS

If your children are going trick-or-treating in any way, it’s important to discuss the dangers. Trick or treat expeditions are for the most part nothing more than harmless fun. However, the festivities have been shown to precipitate a variety of dangers, especially when the kids get to go out alone. 

The association between Halloween and kidnapping might not be prevalent but it is definitely worth nothing. With kids out unsupervised and at odd hours, there is always the risk of abduction incidents. Typically, crowded and active communities make this less of a risk. But as a parent you can never really be too careful so this is a risk you cannot afford to ignore, be precautious and talk to your kids about avoiding long conversations with strangers or giving too much information to people they don’t know.

When you’re planning for your child’s Halloween costume, make sure that the costume doesn’t make it difficult for you or anyone else to see them in the dark. Bright colors on the costume are a good idea, or even reflective wear. Cars are still on the road during Halloween, and others are out and about, energized and running around. It’s crucial that you and others can see your child in the dark.

GETTING LOST

Children just can’t help but get lost whether it is at a new school or an old mall. During Halloween, this risk is increased by the fact that they are out in unfamiliar surroundings often at night. This is a nightmare not only for you as the parent but also for the kid.

It’s important that if you are not going with your kid, that you go over their trick or treating route so they know exactly where they will be going. If your child has a phone or smart device, many parents use apps that will give parents their location at all times.

INJURIES

Before we get into this one, here is a statistic that will shock you. The risk of your child getting hit by a car doubles on Halloween. Letting your children go out unsupervised means they have to do things like crossing the road all by themselves. This is dangerous whether it is at night or during the day. It is important to talk to your child about distractions and the importance of pedestrian safety.

Walking around in the dark also increases chances of smaller accidents. These include things like tripping, falling into ditches, attacks by guard dogs and getting trampled by massive crowds. Fortunately, these cases are few and far between, especially if you take precautions as will be discussed before.

Halloween is all about fun. But safety is priority #1. These tips can come in handy for everyone on Halloween night. This holiday should be pure fun for your kids. So keep them safe and plan ahead. That way everyone will have an enjoyable Halloween.