Halloween is one of the best holidays in my opinion You get to dress up, meet friends, and eat your weight in candy in one night But while this time of year is fun, it's imperative that we keep ourselves and our children safe That's why we've put together this handy guide - so you can enjoy Halloween without regret

With variants of the COVID-19 coronavirus still prevalent, trick-or-treating will not be as fun as it used to be But that doesn't mean Halloween has to be canceled With a little ingenuity, we can keep children safe and prevent accidents The following are some Halloween safety tips

1 never leave children alone-even older children should have an accompanying adult with them

2 there is no rule that trick-or-treating must be in the dark For young children, it is best to take them out in the early evening, between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm

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3 safely cross the street and walk on sidewalks - This time of year is often a distraction for drivers, so always walk on the sidewalk and cross the street only when it is safe to do so

4 use reflective materials when possible to make yourself more visible to drivers

5 decorate and wear a face mask as part of your costume - Although the likelihood of contracting covid is low in outdoor settings, the CDC recommends wearing a face mask in indoor public places and among those who have not yet been vaccinated You can save yourself the trouble by decorating it to match your costume or being the Mad Doctor Be careful not to replace the face mask that comes with the costume, as it does not provide the same level of protection as the real thing Also, do not wear them in layers as they may cause breathing difficulties

6 Make sure the child can see clearly and that the vision is not impaired by the costume or face paint

7 disinfect and wash hands regularly - this goes without saying not only for COVID-19 but also for other viruses such as influenza

8 stay 6 feet away from other groups at all times Social distance is important during this time to prevent the spread of the virus

9 don't carry real fire - glowing candles are beautiful to look at, but they are a real fire hazard, especially considering that Halloween costumes are flammable Instead, carry electric lights or glow sticks, which will make it easier for children to be seen by drivers

10 This is, of course, a challenge, but some homes might, for example, distribute candy in individual bags so that it can be picked up at the end of the drive Another option is to make a chute out of cardboard or other tubes and hand the candy from there to the trick-or-treaters

11 if you are in a high-risk area, celebrate at home instead-if you happen to be in a high-risk area, you can't fall down But don't worry You can celebrate in your backyard with a scavenger hunt or candy giveaway