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Oct 30, 2009 6:15 pm US/Eastern
H1N1 Putting Fear Into Some On Halloween
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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H1N1 has some parents on edge this Halloween, but officials say it can still be safe for "Trick Or Treaters."
Judy Delaney/CBS
As the sun goes down on Halloween, thousands of trick-or-treaters across the country will pound the pavement collecting candy from unknown households. This year, along with the typical fears that concern parents, there's also the looming threat of H1N1.
Most health experts are quick to point out that parents shouldn't fear H1N1 more than the seasonal flu. But there are precautions that can be made to make sure your kids are safe this Halloween.
"I wouldn't limit trick-or-treating," says Neil Fishman, M.D., director of the Department of Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Control at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. "Going shopping, riding in a bus, going to school -- those are all ways you could be exposed so it doesn't make sense to restrict one small component of social interaction."
So, when you send your little ghosts and goblins out Halloween night, here are some steps you can take to be extra careful this Halloween:
- Make sure your kids wash their hands before digging into their goodies.
- Avoid letting them touch their eyes, nose and mouth while collecting candy.
- Apply make-up for them with your own clean hands.
- To make your candy dish sanitary
- To make your own candy bowl sanitary, dish it out with washed hands
- Don't forget to cough in your arm
Click Here for more Halloween safety tips.
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