Trick or Treating Best Practices – Ohio Department of Health
For Parents/Guardians:
• If taking your children trick-or-treating, limit the number of houses you visit and ask your children to stay as far from treat-givers as possible. For small children, consider holding the bag for them.
• Wipe off candy wrappers with sanitizing wipes when you arrive home. (NOTE: Never wipe unpackaged food with wipes.)
• Allow children to eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid homemade treats made by strangers.
• If your child is at greater risk of complications from COVID-19, contact your doctor before allowing participation in Halloween activities.
For Community Members:
• For trick-or-treating, reach out to neighbors to discuss ways to ensure 6-foot social distancing, how candy can most safely be distributed, and the need for face coverings.
• Refrain from having children select their own treats from a bowl/common container or set up a hand-sanitizing station.
• Consider lining up individually wrapped goodie bags on porch steps, a table in the driveway, or the edge of the driveway or yard with a sign asking children to take only one. Or use other creative ways to distribute treats, such as using a candy “slide” made of PVC pipe or hanging treats from a wall or fence.
• If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.
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More resources:
Ohio Dept. of Health: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/responsible/celebrating-halloween.pdf
Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/celebrations.html
National Safety Council: https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/autumn-safety/halloween
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