Your kids are itching to go out for a night of trick or treating, wearing costumes, and some Halloween fun. But, to have fun we also need to make sure that everyone stays healthy and safe. COVID-19 cases are on the rise and it’s making us question whether or not we should postpone plans.

Things like facial masks, hand sanitizers and social distancing are going to need to be added to the list to this years Halloween preparation. In addition to this, parents should continue paying attention to surroundings, keeping your child within sight and most of all, listening to your direction are critical to ensure a safe and happy Halloween experience that won’t end in tears or worse, trips to the ER. AFC Urgent Care Vernon is here if you need us with 3 Halloween health and COVID-19 safety tips for teens.

     1. Driving Safety

Think scheduling a trip to the dentist after the entire bag of candy has been consumed is your worst nightmare? Think again. Did you know that more children are struck by cars on Halloween than any other night of the year? Not only that, but two-thirds (2/3) of all highway fatalities at Halloween are alcohol-related. Don’t even think about getting behind the wheel if you’re impaired. And that new teen driver? Take the keys away on Halloween.

Most motorists are cautious but hey, everyone’s human and we all make mistakes. You’ve got to be super-vigilant especially in neighborhoods that are crowded, have lots of two-way double-lined streets where speed limits tend to be higher than the safe one-way street on your cul-de-sac in Vernon. The hours between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm are the trickiest (no pun i). Not only is this rush hour with stressed out parents trying to get home from work but it’s prime candy collecting time.

     2. Check the candy loot

Make sure your teen knows he/she cannot touch one M&M before Mom or Dad have a look. Food allergies are very common and if you’re not checking the loot when getting home, you are risking an allergic reaction and a trip to the hospital. Consider giving them a treat or two from your own stash if the candy urge gets out of hand. If your child has food allergies always carry an auto-injectable epinephrine pen with you

      3. Get A Flu Vaccine and COVID-19 tested before you go

Flu season just started and COVID-19 is still here. This is a twindemic you want to avoid. A night out of fun, especially in the cold and in small gatherings can increase your chances of getting the one or the other. We advise that parents and their kids get flu vaccinated to prepare for the flu season. This also helps eliminate the flu when diagnosing COVID-19.

If you are attending a small gathering or seeing family relatives who are at high risk, you can get tested for COVID-19 at our AFC Urgent Care center in Vernon, CT. We offer rapid COVID-19 testing 7 days a week and can help ease your concerns when going to a gathering. Remember the risk is not knowing! Get tested and get flu vaccinated to get a peace of mind.

Additional COVID-19 guidance for parents

As COVID-19 cases have been rising over the past few weeks, the Department of Public Health advises some of the following:

• Don’t host a party or attend one with more than 25 people
• Avoid hayrides, haunted houses ( unless they’re drive-throughs) and events where you can’t maintain a physical distance
• Wear masks, use hand sanitizer and keep a distance of 6ft from others
• Avoid large groups when trick or treating.
• A costume mask is not a substitute for a facial mask. Don’t double mask as this can restrict breathing. Instead, decorate or buy a Halloween themed facial mask. They’re out there!

AFC Urgent Care Vernon is Halloween ready for you!

At AFC Urgent Care Vernon you can come to our center with no appointment necessary, or you can schedule a TeleMed appointment and be seen in the comfort of your own home. We are located at 179 Talcottville Rd, Vernon, CT 06066. AFC Urgent Care Vernon is open 7 days a week Monday-Friday 8am-8pm and Saturday-Sunday 8am-5pm. We are offering both the quadrivalent flu vaccine and COVID-19 testing 7 days a week.

We wish everyone a Happy and Safe Halloween. Please remember to wear a mask, use hand sanitizer,  and maintain social distancing.