Tips to Avoid Flu on Halloween

Trick-or-Treat!

These tips on how to stay healthy this Halloween come from KCRA, Sacramento:

Doctors are warning people of all ages, especially parents, to be aware of the scary truth about Halloween and H1N1 when they go to parties or trick or treating.

Dr. Peaslee Dumont said keeping a child from getting sick means following some simple guidelines.

"It's not so important to kill the germs -- it's to wash them away," said Dumont, who works in Vacaville, where a first-grader died last week apparently from H1N1.

That's exactly what Kat Byers plans to do with her 2-year-old daughter, Jessica.

"Keep sanitizer on us, make sure she washes her hands at all times," Byers said.

Other parents, like Marina Stitzel, have similar plans.

"I don't think you can be careful enough," Stitzel said.

Stitzel's son, Stephano, is 3years old, and he knows exactly what he wants to be this Halloween.

"Spiders," Stephano said.

So Stitzel is going trick-or-treating with some goodies of her own.

"We have the baby wipes and hand wipes with us were constantly cleaning his hands," Stitzel said.

Dr. Dumont said washing your hands and being a bit more vigilant than normal is the trick.

"Anyone who is sick, is coughing or sneezing, should stay home, even though it's Halloween," Dumont said.

He said those who are sick or live in a home where someone is ill should also avoid handing out candy.

Some doctors also recommend that people use a scoop rather than their hands when giving out candy.

Doctors also urge shoppers not to try on costumes in stores. They recommend that buyers buy a costume that comes wrapped in plastic, and to wash a mask before wearing it.

A scoop?

I will not be handing out wrapped candy with a scoop. That's too awkward.

I think I'll wear medical exam gloves.

Good grief.

Instead of getting razor blades in apples (Does anyone give out apples anymore?), people can fear getting the dreaded H1N1 virus.

If you're sick, you shouldn't go trick-or-treating or go to a party. If you're sick, you shouldn't be giving out candy.

Same as every other year.

I think it's time to get a grip.
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