//DHEC & Prisma Health provide halloween safety tips
halloween safety tips

DHEC & Prisma Health provide halloween safety tips

This year Halloween should look a bit different to prevent the spread of COVID-19, that’s according to DHEC.

Prisma Health offers more guidance on having a safe Halloween

As the weather cools, the holidays are quickly approaching. For many, this is a time for friends and family to gather and celebrate traditions. During this pandemic year, it’s important to consider alternatives to previous rituals such as travel and sharing of meals. These times call for creativity and perhaps a twist to our standard holiday fare. Consider the following low-risk activities to reduce exposure to COVID-19 to keep your family safe and healthy.

Halloween Safety Tips

People like a good fright for Halloween, but no one enjoys a COVID-19 scare due to exposure or actual symptoms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers house-to-house or trunk-or-treating options, hayrides with people not in your household, indoor costume parties and haunted houses to be high-risk activities.  To create a safe and healthy environment this year, try a virtual spooky decorating contest with your friends or neighbors. An outside scavenger hunt involving scary decorations in the neighborhood for the children and even parents can create a new tradition for the neighborhood. Or prepare Halloween-themed food and watch horror movies with the family ‘til the witching hour.

The CDC Suggest These Lower Risk Halloween Activities

These lower risk activities can be safe alternatives:

  • Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
  • Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
  • Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
  • Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
  • Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
  • Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
  • Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house