Reduce Your H1N1 Risk on Halloween

Santa Monica (myFOXa.com) - Halloween is the first social holiday since the outbreak of H1N1. Kids will be trick or treating and adults will party the weekend away... all of which potential could spread the virus.

Susan Hirasuna was in Santa Monica with advice from the experts on how to reduce the risk.

Call it the swine boo! Should parents be worried about the swine flu while kids are trick-or-treating? Some experts say we should all take steps to prevent a Halloween outbreak.

As trick or treaters go door to door this Halloween they'll have more on their minds than just eating a little too much candy.

"Well if you wash your hands before you eat it then you don't have too much to worry," says
13-year-old trick or treater Connor Queenan.

With H1N1 at the forefront of health concerns nationwide, health departments across the region are putting out some helpful tips tailored to this virus.

Dr. Barbara Brookmyer with the Frederick County Health Department says these are tips not meant to scare parents but to be on the safe side.

"I would say that people's awareness of the H1N1 influenza and how easily it is to spread is giving us a good opportunity to remind parents as to what they should be thinking about all year round and every Halloween season," says Dr Brookmyer.

She suggests kids not share any part of their costume with others.

"Should not share fangs. In some cases the masks. Don't share the masks," says Dr Brookmyer.

When it comes to the candy bowl, grab wrapped candies only.
And if you plan on handing out candy, you can always use a scoop like ones used at popcorn stands.

Parents we spoke with say they plan to take a common sense approach.

"We're not taking it too far and not being too ridiculous with it ," says parent Douglas Caron.

And most importantly, practice those good habits especially before you dive into all those treats.

"We are washing our hands a lot more," says trick or treater Connor Queenan.

Another important tip is to keep any sick kids home and if people are sick in your house it's probably best to skip handing out candy all together.