After the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) declared trick-or-treating unsafe in 2020, many families are likely wondering if the situation is the same this year.
While things have certainly progressed, something as popular and interactive as trick-or-treating comes with some unique risks, given the circumstances.
But thankfully, the director of the CDC, Rochelle Walensky, recently made a statement saying that the forecast for everyone’s favorite Halloween tradition is looking promising — as long as people follow a few key guidelines.
In this article, we’ll be sharing those guidelines with you as well as some essential tips to help you and your little ones trick-or-treat safely in 2021.
Let’s start with Walensky’s first recommendation.
1. Trick-or-Treat Outside
If you can manage to do all your trick-or-treating outside, then as long as you stick to the other tips on this list, you and your family should be able to have a fun, safe, and happy Halloween.
As a general rule, you’ll want to avoid going into anyone’s home who isn’t a close friend or family member you can trust.
The neighbor’s haunted house might be a local favorite during spooky season, but it’s better to be safe than sorry and stay outside during these uncertain times.
2. Limit Your Crowd Exposure
The CDC director also advises keeping your crowd time as low as possible.
This tip is par for the course in terms of covid safety precautions, but it’s especially important to abide by while trick-or-treating.
Following social distancing rules may be difficult when walking down a crowded street, but being mindful of your surroundings can go a long way in protecting you and your family’s health.
3. Avoid Large Halloween Parties
Although the situation is looking a little safer than last year, easing back into things is the strategy of choice that the CDC recommends.
Following the same theme as tip number two, if you plan on attending (or hosting) a Halloween party, make sure it’s small and intimate. It’s all about minimizing the risk of exposure. So, the smaller the group, the better.
4. Decide What You & Your Family Are Comfortable With
Last year, the CDC reported that trick-or-treating was a high-risk activity and should be avoided…
And as we’ve seen, things have certainly lightened up in 2021. But everyone’s comfort level is different.
Before you leave the house, chat with your family to decide whether or not you’re comfortable going up to your neighbor’s doors. It’s also a good idea to figure out how you feel about other people approaching your door throughout the night, which brings us to our next tip.
5. Set Up in the Driveway Instead
If you’d like to be on the safer side, try setting up your bowl of candy in the driveway and sitting a safe distance away. You can set up some lawn chairs and a cooler and watch all the trick-or-treaters go by.
That way, you can still interact with your neighbors without the added risk of people coming up to your house.
6. Mask Up
When you’re perusing for candy with your family, always make sure that everyone’s wearing a mask.
The great part about Halloween is that it’s the perfect opportunity to get festive. Helping your little one decorate their mask and make it part of their costume can be a fun addition to the staple Halloween traditions we all know and love.
7. Don’t Forget Hand Sanitizer
Take a to-go bottle of hand sanitizer with you along the way and use it every so often between houses. If you want to be super safe, you can use it between each house.
Experts are saying that face-to-face transmission is a bigger concern than hand-to-hand, but some extra protection couldn’t hurt!
8. Bring a Flashlight & Wear Reflective Clothing
This tip is crucial to any trick-or-treating adventure, whether there’s a pandemic or not. Whether it’s your phone flashlight or a handheld one, make sure to bring some extra lighting with you.
And, if you have it, throw on some reflective clothing, so you stand out to passing cars.
9. Get Help in a Moment’s Notice With the Rescu GPS Alert App
911 calls often increase during the holiday season. With the lines more crowded than usual, the risk of getting placed in a waiting queue goes up.
Combined with the time it takes to answer the dispatcher’s questions about the nature of your emergency, a bad situation can quickly become much worse.
In a crisis, that’s time you can’t afford to waste.
With the Rescu GPS alert app, you can immediately dispatch emergency responders to your exact location (or your pre-registered home address) in just two taps. No talking necessary.
Rescu uses a private subscriber-dedicated dispatch center to respond to emergencies twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, so you’ll never have to worry about your request for help being delayed.
For just $10 a month, you can guarantee you and your family trick-or-treat with safety and peace of mind this Halloween. Click below to get started today!
