Personal Safety Tips for a Stress-Free and Safe Halloween

The 2020 Holiday Season Will be a Bit Different!

As the year 2020 draws to a close, we are still struggling to make sense of this pandemic.

Wether you live in Horry County, Georgetown County, South Carolina or somewhere else in the USA, we just know your life has been affected!

Kids are learning virtually, seniors are homebound due to the danger of being exposed to COVID-19, millions are still out of work and others are working from home, and we are seeing yet another spike of new cases.

How will we navigate the upcoming holidays?

Personal safety is important to us. We want our customers and friends to be safe as well.

How Will We Navigate the Holidays During a Pandemic?

It’s safe to say things will be different.

• More shopping will be done online than ever before
• Less travel is expected to take place
• Families will be separated due to safety concerns

Each family will need to decide for themselves how to navigate the unknown of a pandemic holiday season.

We are glad however to have discovered some great resources for those who need ideas and suggestions.

CDC Guidelines for Personal Safety During a Pandemic Holiday Season

Per the CDC:

As many people in the United States begin to plan for fall and winter holiday celebrations, CDC offers the following considerations to help protect individuals and their families, friends, and communities from COVID-19. These considerations are meant to supplement—not replace—any state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which holiday gatherings must comply. When planning to host a holiday celebration, you should assess current COVID-19 levels in your community to determine whether to postpone, cancel, or limit the number of attendees.

Low Risk Halloween Activities!

For parents who are concerned about potential COVID-19 exposure a ‘traditional Trick or Treat‘ activity might pose, here are some lower risk Halloween activity ideas.

Safe alternatives:

• Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
• Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
• Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
• Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
• Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house

Halloween Activities to Avoid in 2020!

While it’s tempting, the CDC urges all of us to do our part and avoid large gatherings and close contact with people outside our safe zone.

Here are their recommendations of activities to avoid:

• Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
• Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
• Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
• Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
• Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household

Safety First To Protect Those You Love!

While we all want to be able to be with family during the holidays, it might be wise to adjust your plans now to only get together with family members who are local to you. Avoid unnecessary travel, including airplanes.

Instead, use technology to connect virtually and make alternative plans.

Be safe. Stay healthy.