Halloween fun starts with a great costume. However, parents often make a few common mistakes when choosing their child's costume.

Parents can help their children stay safe and avoid a hospital visit by following a few simple rules when choosing costumes.

Here are five top costume health concerns and how to avoid them:

Beware of borrowed costumes.

Wearing an unwashed costume from last year or one that's been borrowed can cause skin infections from leftover bacteria. Wash any costume before use.

Avoid costume mask hazards.

Wearing a full-face mask as part of a costume can result in difficulty seeing, headaches, acne or a skin infection if it doesn't fit properly. Make sure to try on the mask for a few minutes before buying it, and have your children and teenagers wash their faces after the Halloween fun is over.

Mitigate makeup mistakes.

Some makeup can contain dyes and other components that can cause skin irritations and rashes. A few days before Halloween night, test the makeup on a small patch of skin on the arm or stomach to make sure your child isn't allergic.

Ditch colored contacts.

Wearing nonprescription colored contacts can cause scratches, infection or blindness. These eye accessories aren't made to fit each individual's eye. Avoid the contacts, and opt for eye makeup or fun glasses instead.

Choose flame-resistant items.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, one of the most common reasons kids visit the hospital on Halloween is for burns from flammable costumes. Purchase costumes with "flame-resistant" on the tag.

Bonus safety tip

Increase visibility of costumes.

Traffic safety is extra important on Halloween because of low visibility. Remind your children to watch for cars. As an added safety measure, have your children decorate their costume with reflective tape or stickers, and carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.

Read more about Halloween:

• Treat yourself to the best this Halloween
• Tips to keep your Halloween safe

Jessica Sosso, M.D., is a physician in Family Medicine in Sparta, Wisconsin.

The post 5 sneaky Halloween costume health concerns appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Children under 12 are not yet eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19, and they usually are the ones most eager to experience Halloween traditions like trick-or-treating.

Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases physician at Mayo Clinic Children's Center says you can keep your children safe and happy. To do so, you need to understand the risks.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute.

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (0:58) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Halloween might be one day, but autumn is a month of fun. Dr. Rajapakse says, with precautions, families can find ways to enjoy both safely.

"One of the big things that we've learned about how the virus is spread is that it really doesn't spread well outdoors," Dr. Rajapakse says.

Apple orchards are a low-risk option. Pumpkin patch visits are, too. Bring a pumpkin home and carve it with the kids.

"High-risk activities to avoid would be any indoor, crowded setting, for example, like an indoor Halloween party, especially where you have lots of young kids who are likely unvaccinated," Dr. Rajapakse says.

Masks are a big part of Halloween, so make them fun. Keep your trick-or-treating group small and avoid indoor gatherings. Dr. Rajapakse says keeping kids safe is the priority.

"When it comes to COVID-19 prevention strategies, using a layered approach is what is most effective."

For instance, get vaccinated if eligible, wear a mask in public, avoid crowded indoor spaces and practice good hand hygiene.

Read more:

• "Tips to keep your kids safe this Halloween."

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a nonpatient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

Learn more about tracking COVID-19 and COVID-19 trends.

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After last year's halt on Halloween due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sweet relief is coming for those who celebrate the spookiest day of the year.

"This year, we're looking toward a Halloween that hopefully brings back some of the activities that kids really enjoy this time of year," says Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases physician with Mayo Clinic Children's Center. "That includes some activities like trick-or-treating. I think one of the big things that we've learned about how the COVID-19 virus is spread is that it really doesn't spread well outdoors. And trick-or-treating is an activity that happens outdoors. We think that with some precautions, we can trick or treat safely this Halloween."

Watch: Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse offers tips to keep kids safe during Halloween.

Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse are in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Nipunie Rajapakse, M.D. / Pediatric Infectious Diseases/ Mayo Clinic."

How children can safely participate in Halloween festivities depends on the activities and the age group, says Dr. Rajapakse.

"For vaccinated kids over 12 years old, we would say trick-or-treating this year is fine. We obviously want to avoid any situation where large groups of people are gathering still. And, so, trick-or-treating in small groups, is what we would recommend if your kids are looking forward to doing that this year."

For younger children who are not yet eligible to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and most likely want to trick or treat, Dr. Rajapakse says Halloween safety means adding a few more tactics to your planning.

"There's no vaccine that has received emergency use authorization for children under 12 years of age yet, so that group is going to be unvaccinated," says Dr. Rajapakse. "This is where using these additional strategies to help keep everyone safe really becomes more important.

Those additional strategies are:

• Wearing a mask.
• Avoiding any crowded indoor spaces.
• Practicing physical distancing of 6 feet as much as possible.
• Washing hands frequently.

"All these different strategies together help protect that group because kids under 12 are probably going to make up most of the kids who want to trick or treat this year," says Dr. Rajapakse.

A layered approach is most effective when it comes to COVID-19 prevention strategies. Dr. Rajapakse says that starts with getting vaccinated for COVID-19, if eligible, followed by wearing a mask around others.

"When it comes to activities like trick-or-treating, there's some likelihood you'll be in contact with others from outside of your household. There will be some gathering at doorsteps of homes, and, so, wearing a mask gives you that extra layer of protection. Thankfully, Halloween is a holiday that usually comes along with masks. There are a lot of fun things and fun prints you can do with masks and help keep everyone safe."

If you have a child or family members who may be at high risk of infection, such as those who are immunocompromised, virtual costume parties or activities involving household family members, like a scary movie night, pumpkin-carving or a candy scavenger hunt around your home and yard, are low-risk options to consider.

_____________________________________

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date. 

For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place.  Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a nonpatient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

Learn more about: Tracking COVID-19 and COVID-19 trends.

The post Tips to keep your kids safe this Halloween appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On Tuesday, Oct. 12, Nipunie Rajapakse, M.D., a pediatric infectious disease specialist with Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, talked about communities planning Halloween and other seasonal activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Rajapakse discussed how to participate safely in the fun, especially with indoor gatherings for younger unvaccinated children. She also took a number of COVID-19 questions related to children.

Journalists who have already registered on the News Network can log into their accounts to download a recording of the Zoom briefing found at the end of this post.

Journalists who would like to access the media briefing video can register with the News Network here.

Please super:

Nipunie Rajapakse, M.D., / Pediatric Infectious Diseases / Mayo Clinic

____________________________________

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a nonpatient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date. 

For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

Learn more about tracking COVID-19 and COVID-19 trends.

The post 10-12-2021 COVID-19 Media Only News Briefing: Kids, COVID-19 and Fall Festivities / Tips for Staying Safe appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (0:59) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please "Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

There might not be little goblins and witches knocking on doors this Halloween. 

"We are discouraging participating in any activities that significantly increase your risk of transmission or exposure to the infection."

But that doesn’t mean that Halloween needs to be canceled. Skip the candy exchange. Instead, visit a pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin, and then carve it with household members. Or pick apples at an orchard where social distancing is enforced.

"Have a virtual costume party, for example, instead of meeting with other people in person would be considered a low-risk way to mark the Halloween holiday," says Dr. Rajapakse.

Keep in mind that a costume mask won't protect you against COVID-19, so consider a Halloween-themed cloth mask instead.  

"Wearing a cloth face covering; making sure that you're washing your hands frequently, and for 20 seconds, either using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; and really trying to adhere to that 6 feet of physical distancing will be the measures that keep you and your family as safe as possible," says Dr. Rajapakse.

Related posts:

• "Halloween safety tips during COVID-19"
• "Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Safe Halloween activities during the pandemic"
• "Do Halloween masks protect you from COVID-19?"

For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Reconsidering Halloween activities appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Traditionally, many children of all ages go door to door trick-or-treating on Halloween. This year, the recommendation is to avoid that activity and consider other ways to celebrate. 

"The traditional Halloween celebration of trick-or-treating and going door to door unfortunately carries risk of transmission of COVID-19," says Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a Mayo Clinic pediatric infectious diseases specialist. "This year, we are discouraging participating in any activities that significantly increase your risk of transmission or exposure to the infection."

Watch: Dr. Rajapakse talks about how to celebrate Halloween safely during COVID-19.

Journalists: Broadcast-quality sound bites with Dr. Rajapakse are available in the downloads. Please courtesy, "Nipunie Rajapakse, M.D./Infectious Diseases/Mayo Clinic."

"We are discouraging any door to door trick-or-treating, even trunk-or-treat type activities. Those are really difficult to maintain physical distancing and therefore they carry risk of transmission of infection," says Dr. Rajapakse. "They also involve the exchange of objects or candy which can also contribute to transmission of infection and we would encourage people not to take part in those types of activities this year."

Along with discouraging trick-or-treating, Dr. Rajapakse says indoor Halloween parties also are not recommended because of the high risk of exposure or infection.

"We also are discouraging participating in indoor Halloween parties. We know that transmission of the virus occurs relatively easily, especially in indoor settings where people are in close contact with each other," says Dr. Rajapakse. This means not meeting indoors with large groups of people is another way to reduce the risk of transmission."

These recommendations don't mean you have to cancel Halloween. There are low-risk options to consider, says Dr. Rajapakse.

Consider these options:

• Carve pumpkins with members of your household.
• Decorate your house, apartment or living space.
• Have a virtual Halloween costume contest.
• Have a Halloween movie night with your household members.
• Have a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going door to door.

"Having activities outdoors instead of indoors is also another way to reduce the risk of transmission. But, unfortunately, there's no way to reduce the risk to zero anytime you have people from different households interacting, especially given the amount of transmission we're seeing in our communities still," says Dr. Rajapakse.

If families participate in events with friends from different households, they should consider holding the event outdoors with plenty of open-air space and allow a safe distance of 6 feet apart.

Dr. Rajapakse encourages everyone to continue following social distancing guidelines, wear a cloth mask while in public and wash your hands with warm soap and water. 

"This holiday season is going to be like no other we have had before. We're still in the midst of this pandemic. We are seeing rates of infection that are at their highest in some parts of the country than they have been, since we started all of this," says Dr. Rajapakse.

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding along with guidelines and recommendations may have changed since the original publication date. 

For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

The post Halloween safety tips during COVID-19 appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Seen by some as the finishing touch to a ghoulish getup, the FDA says the poorly fitted contacts could be the beginning of serious eye problems.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:00) is in the downloads at the end of the post.
Please ‘Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network.’ Read the script.

When it comes to colored or decorative contact lens – Halloween buyer beware.

"The only safe contact lenses are when you go to an eye doctor – so somebody who is actually certified in being able to look at your eyes and fit you for a prescription," says Dr. Vandana Bhide, an internal medicine specialist.

Dr. Bhide is echoing a recent warning from the FDA, saying, for contacts, a prescription is a must. The alert specifically lists boutiques, novelty and Halloween stores as places not to buy contact lens.

That’s because contact lenses are not one-size-fits-all devices. Dr. Bhide says a poor fit can cause serious injury.

"And, specifically, the part of the eye that’s most concerning is what’s called the cornea, which is the front," she says. "It's the clear part of the eye that covers the pupil and the colored part of the eye, and that is a membrane that can very easily get damaged."

Scratches on the cornea, infections and impaired vision are all possible results of bad lenses.

"It’s really not worth all of the potential problems that you can have," adds Dr. Bhide.

Her advice is skip the colored contacts and the risks that come with them, and choose a happy – albeit slightly less spooky – Halloween.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: A warning about costume contacts appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

“We really want everyone to have a safe and fun Halloween night,” says Dr. Nicholas A. Cooley, a Mayo Clinic Health System family physician. “Parents can help their children stay safe and avoid a hospital visit by following a few simple rules when choosing costumes.”

Dr. Cooley shares his top five costume health concerns and how to avoid them:

1. Beware of borrowed costumes.

Wearing an unwashed costume from last year or one that’s been borrowed can cause skin infections from leftover bacteria. Wash any costume before use.

2. Avoid mask hazards.

Wearing a mask can result in difficulty seeing, headaches, acne or a skin infection if it doesn’t fit properly. Make sure to try on the mask for a few minutes before buying it, and have your children and teenagers wash their faces after the Halloween fun is over.

3. Mitigate makeup mistakes.

Some makeup can contain dyes and other components that can cause skin irritations and rashes. A few days before Halloween night, test the makeup on a small patch of skin on the arm or stomach to make sure your child isn’t allergic.

4. Ditch colored contacts.

Wearing nonprescription colored contacts can cause scratches, infection or blindness. These eye accessories aren’t made to fit each individual’s eye. Avoid the contacts, and opt for eye makeup or fun glasses instead.

5. Choose flame-resistant items.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, one of the most common reasons kids visit the hospital on Halloween is from burns from flammable costumes. Purchase costumes with “flame-resistant” on the tag.

“Traffic safety is extra important on Halloween because of the low visibility,” adds Dr. Cooley. “Remind your children to watch for cars. As an added safety measure, have your children decorate their costume with reflective tape or stickers, and carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.”

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