Florida Department of Health-Leon Encourages Halloween Safety 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 20, 2020

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH-LEON ENCOURAGES HALLOWEEN SAFETY

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Department of Health in Leon County is providing information for residents to make the best decisions about their health and safety while enjoying Halloween.

If trick-or-treating is allowed in your community, the Department has tips to ensure a safe and healthy Halloween.  Whatever you do, remember the mask mandate is still in effect in Leon County. A costume mask does not substitute for a cloth face covering.

“Many children and families in Leon County are wanting to know what happens on Halloween this year. This holiday, along with most of our holidays, will look and feel a bit different,” said Claudia Blackburn, Health Officer for the Florida Department of Health in Leon. “The good news is that with some changes, we can find meaningful and fun ways to celebrate while still working to reduce COVID-19 transmission in our community.”

Below are some suggestions on how to celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos while keeping yourself and those around you safe.

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
• Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame. 
• Look for "flame resistant" on the costume labels. Wigs and accessories should also clearly indicate this. 
• Avoid any sharp or long swords, canes, or sticks as a costume accessory. Your child can easily be hurt by these accessories if he or she stumbles or trips.
• Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as “one size fits all,” or “no need to see an eye specialist,” obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. This can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.

For those unable to go trick-or-treating, there are still plenty of activities to enjoy the holiday

• Carving or decorating pumpkins with family members and displaying them.

Children can draw a face with markers and parents can do the cutting. Consider using a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest. Do not place candlelit pumpkins on a porch or any path where visitors may pass close by.

• 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.
• Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples.

• Attend a small, outdoor and open-air costume parade or have a virtual costume contest

If you plan to stay home this year and hand out goodies to neighborhood children, the Department advises these tips:

• Remove tripping hazards to keep your home safe for trick-or-treaters.                *
• Keep the porch and front yard clear of anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
• Check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Sweep wet leaves from sidewalks and steps.
• Provide grab and go goodie bags instead of individual pieces of candy.                         
• If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing the bags.

Parents are encouraged to give their child a good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating to prevent overindulgence on candy. Keep an eye on what your child has in his or her mouth while trick or treating.

Additional resources for a safe and healthy Halloween can be found on the websites for the American Academy of Pediatrics and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About the Florida Department of Health

The Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

 Follow us on Twitter at @healthyleonfl and Nextdoor. Please visit www.healthyfloridacovid19.gov for the most current information about COVID-19 in Florida.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

 Pamela Saulsby | Public Information Officer

 850-404-6220