Getting ready to have a scary good time?
This weekend, New Yorkers of all ages, including many of our NYC public school families, will be celebrating Halloween with countless costumes, sweets, “haunted” attractions, and other ghoulish delights.
If you and your family plan on celebrating “All Hallows Eve” this weekend, we just wanted to take a moment to suggest a few tips that can help keep you and your loved ones safe all weekend long:
Tips for a Spooky, Yet Safe Halloween
- Make sure trick-or-treaters can be seen — Wear light-colored clothing, and consider adding reflective tape to your costumes and candy bags/buckets to make you easier to see in the dark.
- Don’t trick-or-treat alone, especially children — Parents or responsible adults should be with young children when walking door-to-door in neighborhoods.
- Stay home if you’re sick — If you or your family members are not feeling well or have recently tested positive for COVID-19, celebrate Halloween at home. You should also stay home if you are not fully vaccinated and were recently exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- Maintain physical distancing, especially if you are not fully vaccinated — Keep six feet of distance from others.
- Wear a face mask — If you are not fully vaccinated, wear a face mask in public places and where required by law.
- When trick-or-treating, never go inside — Accept any treats at the door. Also be cautious around household animals, including dogs.
- Keep your hands clean — Wash your hands regularly with soap and water. Likewise, you can use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Bring hand sanitizer and extra face masks — Because accidents happen.
- Check candy to make sure it hasn’t been tampered with or opened — And don’t forget to brush and floss your teeth after eating sweets!
- Halloween masks are not face masks — Halloween costumes can be ineffective at stopping COVID-19 transmission, so wear a face mask over any costume mask. Do not wear a face mask under your costume mask, as you may have a harder time breathing.
When trick-or-treating, make sure you walk only on sidewalks and not in the street!
For additional Halloween Safety Tips, check out the Administration for Children’s Services’ “Halloween Safety” page, as well as the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s “COVID-19: Tips for a Safer Halloween” document.
On behalf of the NYC Department of Education, we wish you and your loved ones a wonderful, memorable, and safe Halloween!
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