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Want to get scared for Halloween?
Think about the germs that can show up at your door dressed not as themselves but as pirates and princesses, Transformers and Twilight vampires.Seasonal flu, anyone?Is H1N1 the "trick" that this year’s treats will carry home?You might not know it from the proliferation of spooky store displays and fly-by-night costume shops, but fewer folks plan to celebrate fright night this year, even though it falls on a Saturday, the National Retail Federation reported in September.But it’s not the risk of spreading infection that has them fearful, at least according to the retailers.It’s the economy, silly. Still, if you’re among the 71 percent who plan to continue the handing-out-candy tradition, it isn’t germaphobic to understand that a little precaution and a lot of hand washing will go a long way:Distribute treats yourself instead of letting the goblins at your doorstep root around for themselves. You never know where those hands have been. Wash your hands before giving out anything. Consider using a scoop instead of your fingers. Wearing hospital-style gloves might scare off the kids unless you dress up as a doctor or nurse.Clean your doorknob, buzzer and knocker. If you’re really paranoid, keep hand sanitizer by the front door — for you and the trick-or-treaters.Parents taking out their costumed little ones — and bigger kids trolling for goodies on their own — should practice good sense, too, besides carrying flashlights and watching out for passing cars:Wash your hands before going out and before tasting any treats.Feeling sickly? Stay home. Going door-to-door or to parties while ill is unhealthy and unneighborly.Be careful what you touch. The Mayo Clinic says flu viruses live longer on surfaces than cold viruses do, and they both live longer on materials such as plastic, metal or wood than on fabric, paper or skin. One pediatrician, who apparently has never watched trick-or-treaters obsessively sort their loot, is quoted online recommending that candy sit for several days so any germs on the wrappers can die. Good luck with that!And did we mention wash your hands before eating?
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