Carleena Angwin

Fear of swine flu shouldn’t keep little ghouls and goblins from trick-or-treating this year, as long as families follow certain precautions, health professionals say.

“I’m not too worried about (the H1N1 virus) because if it’s out there you can catch it anywhere,” said Loretta Morris, who taking her grandchildren and great-grandchildren trick-or-treating today. “We just don’t take any candy without wrappers or fruit, and I make sure they wash their hands before eating it.”

Which is exactly what health departments and local doctors recommend.

“We recommend that parents follow the same health precautions on Halloween as they do any other day,” said Carleena Angwin, public health educator with the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department.

“If trick-or-treaters are coming to your house for Halloween, hand out your treats yourself, instead of letting (them) dig into the bowl themselves,” she said.

Doctors also recommend that children don’t share costumes or masks since the H1N1 virus can stay on hard surfaces for up to eight hours. They also say to use hand sanitizer frequently.

“Swine flu is a concern of mine, a very big concern for me because children are dying,” said Catoosa County resident Karla Pritchett, the parent of an 8-year-old daughter and an 11 year-old son. “But it’s a parent’s responsibility, in my opinion, to take care of their child’s personal hygiene and make sure they are taking care of themselves.

“I think the main thing is not to blow things out of proportion and possibly make it something more than what it is,” she said.

Dr. Tiku Bhutwala, with Battlefield Internal Medicine in Fort Oglethorpe, said there are some trick-or-treating kids who should be a bit more cautious, such as those with pre-existing respiratory illnesses like asthma, or whose immune system is already compromised, such as cancer patients.

“The bottom line to me would be primarily being conscious about those around you,” he said. “If you plan to give out candy, wash your hands frequently, and if you are concerned, it would be a wise idea not to share masks.”

Jennifer Moorer, spokeswoman for the North Georgia Health District, said it’s a good time to emphasize the importance of staying home if the child is feeling sick.

“I know it’s difficult if you don’t feel well, especially for a child if it’s Halloween, but it’s important for a parent to keep them home,” she said. “You can do some special things with the children at home who can’t go out because they are ill.”

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TIPS:

* Bring hand sanitizer and use it frequently, especially before children eat candy.

* Don’t let trick-or-treaters dig into bowl and get candy themselves, instead hand it out to them.

* Don’t let children share costumes or masks, face paint safer.

* Don’t let them share plastic toys because they can easily spread germs.

* Don’t share any food, plates or cups at parties.

Source: Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department and the North Georgia Health District.