Notes from the Nurse
Halloween Edition
October 1, 2020
In this issue...
- Halloween in the time of Covid
- Avoiding a Food Allergy Scare
- FARE Teal Pumpkin Project
- October Health Events
- October Health Observances
Holiday celebrations will likely need to be different this fall to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk, but there are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. Consider participating in activities from the lower risk category below.
If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.
Here are some recommendations for activities that are lower, moderate and higher risk:
If you do decide to attend an event or gathering...
Prepare before you go:
- Stay home if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (symptoms of COVID-19) , if you are waiting for COVID-19 test results, or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- Check with the organizer or event venue for updated information about any COVID-19 safety guidelines and if they have steps in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
- Prioritize attending outdoor activities over indoor activities and stay within your local area as much as possible.
- Bring supplies to help you and others stay healthy—for example, masks (bring extra), hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, and drinking water.
Use social distancing and limit physical contact
- Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet or more from people who don’t live in your household. Be particularly mindful in areas where it may harder to keep this distance, such as check-in areas, parking lots, and routes of entry and exit.
- Select seating or determine where to stand based on the ability to keep 6 feet of space from people who don’t live in your household, including if you will be eating or drinking.
- Arrive to the event early or at off-peak times to avoid crowding and congested areas.
- Avoid using restroom facilities or concession areas at high traffic times, such as intermission, half-time, or immediately at the end of the event.
Wear masks
- Wear a mask when interacting with other people to minimize the risk of transmitting the virus.
- Wearing masks is most important when social distancing is difficult.
- Masks are strongly encouraged in settings where individuals might raise their voices, such as shouting, chanting, or singing.
Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces or shared items
- Use touchless garbage cans or pails and cashless payment options when possible. Otherwise, exchange cash or card by placing payment in a receipt tray, if available, or on the counter.
- Avoid any self-serve food or drink options, such as buffets, salad bars, and condiment or drink stations. Use grab-and-go meal options, if available.
- Use disposable food service items including utensils and dishes, if available.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer immediately before eating food or after touching any common surfaces like hand railings, payment kiosks, door handles, and toilets.
CDC Guidance on Attending an Event or Gathering During Covid
Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics
Food-Free Fun
Offer non-edible goodies. Food Allergy Research & Education's Teal Pumpkin Project, which promotes safe trick-or-treating options for food-allergic children, suggests items such as glow sticks, spider rings, vampire fangs, pencils, bubbles, bouncy balls, finger puppets, whistles, bookmarks, stickers and stencils.
Plan alternatives to trick-or-treating, such as watching age-appropriate creepy movies.
Center activities around costume parades, pumpkin decorating, Halloween themed games, crafts and scavenger hunts or reading spooky storybooks.
Always read the ingredient label on any treat your child receives. Many popular Halloween candies contain some of the most common allergens, such as peanuts or tree nuts, milk, egg, soy or wheat.
If the ingredients aren't listed, bag up the goodies your child can't eat because of an allergy and leave them with a note asking the "Treat Fairy" or "Switch Witch" to swap them for a prize.
Be aware that even if they are not listed on the ingredient label, candies (both chocolate and non-chocolate) are at high risk of containing trace amounts of common allergy triggers, because factories often produce many different products. Also, "fun size" or miniature candies may have different ingredients or be made on different equipment than the regular size candies, meaning that brands your child previously ate without problems could cause a reaction.
Teach your child to politely turn down home-baked items such as cupcakes and brownies, and never to taste or share another child's food.
Don't Be in the Dark
Be familiar with and teach other adults who spend time with your child about the food allergy and how to react to an emergency. See How to Use an Epinephrine Auto-Injector
Don't let your child trick-or-treat alone, and make sure they have an epinephrine auto-injector with them.
Anyone with a cell phone should fully charge it before heading out.
Explain symptoms of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, such as shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, swelling of lips or tongue and dizziness.
- Even if epinephrine is administered right away and anaphylaxis symptoms seem to stop, the child treated always should be taken to the emergency room.
Local Health Events
October Health Observances
Mental Illness Awareness Week
Contact Information
Email: christina.allen@pisd.edu
Website: https://www.pisd.edu/domain/233
Phone: 469-752-2309