Trick or Treat Suggestions

This week ends with Halloween and the flood of kids at your door dressed in their festive costumes will be ready for your handout.

A few tips come to mind as we prepare for this invasion.  First you want to be sure the pathway to your door is safe.  Remember to clean the driveway, sidewalk, steps and porch while it is still daylight.  Fallen leaves can be slippery especially when wet so they should be removed as well as any toys, twigs, etc.  Make sure this area is well lit by leaving your porch light and any other light fixtures on during the Trick or Treat hours.  Those hours are set by each locality.

Your method for handing out candy this year is especially significant this year since the H1Ni and other flu viruses are spreading rapidly so much earlier than the normal flu seasons.  It is recommended that you give only individually pre-wrapped candy and keep it in a convenient basket, bowl or other container that is easy for you to manage at the door.  You should not allow each child to reach into your container to get the candy since each one could be contaminating the other pieces with his hands.  Rather, you should choose and drop the candy into each child's bag yourself.  Keep hand sanitizer near the door and use it yourself as often as you think necessary.

As an extra precaution, you may want to use disinfecting wipes to clean your doorbell or door handles if you keep it closed between visitors.  This can be done periodically during the evening or at the end when Trick or Treating is over.  It is a shame we need to be so careful, but it is always better to be safe than sorry and we want to do our part in keeping our homes and neighbors as healthy and safe as possible.