For this upcoming Halloween, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) provides a list of things to keep in mind during this holiday in order to stay safe and healthy.  

If you feel sick while trick-or-treating or handing out candy, remember to have yourself tested for illnesses such as COVID-19 and the flu. 

The IDPH suggests that at parties, include ample space inside or outside and go provide good ventilation.

To stay safe in costumes, the IDPH recommends there is a colorful or reflective part of the outfit to make yourself easier to see during the night or when crossing the street. 

The IDPH also encourages wearing makeup instead of vision-blocking masks.

To ensure safety with the passed-out candy, the IDPH recommends trick-or-treaters to check the candy and to not consume it until it has been confirmed to be harmless. 

Be aware of potentially harmful ingredients. Check the label to ensure none of the ingredients are harmful and tell children not to eat any candy if it hasn’t been wrapped. 

The IDPH recommends that If any candy seems unusual or suspicious, be sure to throw it away immediately. 

The IDPH also reminds trick-or-treaters to stay alert and beware of hazards. An average of 3,200 halloween-related injuries happen every year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). 55% of injuries were from pumpkin carving, 25% were from falls when preparing decorations or walking around and 20% were from allergic reactions and ingestions as well as some lacerations among other injuries. 

Most of the injured included those 18 years or older (54%), while 46% were under 18-years old. Ten percent of injuries were children under the age of 6.

The IDPH suggests parents keep sharp objects away from kids while carving pumpkins and to instead encourage using a spoon to scoop out the insides.

Tracing the design is recommended for kids using sharp objects.

Visit the Illinois Poison Center website for more safety information.