IDPH Offers Guidance for a Spooky but Safe Halloween

Skip Trick-or-treating and Stay Home if You Are Sick; Avoid Crowded, Poorly Ventilated Spaces; Protect Yourself with Vaccines and Boosters

SPRINGFIELD – With people across the state planning to celebrate Halloween, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is advising the public to celebrate safely, even as they seek out a spooky time. While COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have been relaxed compared to the last two years, public health officials are reminding Illinoisans to keep the safety of themselves and little hobgoblins in mind whether they are trick-or-treating or gathering for frightful fall festivities.

The most important action everyone can take to protect themselves is to be fully up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations and the updated bivalent booster shots, as well as the seasonal flu shot.

Following are additional safety tips shared by the CDC:

• If you are sick or feel symptoms, stay home! Skip the Halloween party and trick-or-treating if you aren’t feeling well.
• Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
  
• Take precautions in crowded or indoor events as informed by your county’s COVID-19 Community Level, like wearing a high-quality mask (and Halloween masks don’t count).
  
• If you’re hosting celebrations, include outdoor spaces if possible and review options for improving ventilation in your home. This can help you reduce virus particles in your home and keep COVID-19 from spreading.
  
• Keep your hands clean. If you’re out trick-or-treating, bring hand sanitizer. If you’re giving out candy, wash your hands frequently.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is also reminding the public to beware of Halloween holiday hazards. Over the past three years, CPSC estimates that an annual average of 3,200 Halloween-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments.

Here’s how the injuries break down:

• 55% were related to pumpkin carving;
• 25% were due to falls while putting up or taking down decorations, tripping on costumes or walking while trick-or-treating;
  
• 20% of the injuries included lacerations, ingestions and other injuries associated with costumes, pumpkins or decorations, and allergic reactions or rashes.
  

Among the injured, 54 percent were adults 18 years and over, 46 percent were under 18 years old, and about 10 percent of all injuries were to children 6 years old or younger.

Fire safety is important year-round, with special awareness during holiday seasons. A new CPSC report estimates that candles and electrical cords/plugs were associated with an annual average of 5,600 and 1,600 fires, respectively, from 2017 through 2019.

Stay safe this Halloween by observing the following CPSC safety tips:

• Leave pumpkin carving to the adults. Child helpers can grab a spoon and scoop out the inside or use a marker to trace the design.
• When your jack-o’-lantern masterpiece is ready, use battery-operated lights or glow sticks rather than an open-flame candle.
  
• If using open-flame candles, keep them away from curtains, decorations and other combustibles that could catch fire.
  
• Never leave burning candles unattended.
  

• Wear a costume that fits and avoid overly long or baggy costumes to prevent trips and falls.
• Costumes with loose, flowing fabrics can also be a fire hazard when close to open flames – keep away.
  
• Reduce fire hazards by choosing costumes made of polyester or nylon fabric and not sheer cotton or rayon fabric. However, any fabric can burn if it comes in contact with an open flame.
  
• Use reflective tape as a trim for costumes and outerwear to help being seen in lower light. Wearing a brightly colored costume and carrying a flashlight or glow stick can also help brighten the walkways for trick-or-treaters.
  

• Prevent fires by using battery-operated lights and glow sticks instead of candles.
• Pay attention to placement of decorations. To help prevent falls, remove obstacles from lawns, steps and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.
  
• Use CPSC’s ladder safety tips to prevent injuries while putting up or taking down decorations.
  
• Indoors or outside, only use lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets.