Castle Shannon Residents,
It is the time of year, when fans of Halloween begin to ask about Trick or Treating. For 2020, the questions center around the potential safety effects owing to the coronavirus pandemic.
A simple internet search will produce many schools of thought, from one extreme to another.
The latest recommendations from the CDC can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween
Please check back here for updates or new information. We will share any additional advice should the CDC, PA Department of Health or Allegheny County Health Department provide changes on best practices in subsequent posts.
Halloween Trick or Treating is not necessarily a local government sanctioned event, but local government seems to be a logical place to coordinate community activity.
To that end, the Borough of Castle Shannon suggests that Trick or Treating take place on Saturday October 31, 2020 from 6pm – 8pm for those residents who are comfortable participating in the event.
Borough officials would be remiss if we did not offer caveats to, and suggestions for, everyone’s safety.
Residents who are not comfortable having visitors on October 31 should close their doors and turn off porch lights. (Street lighting and other lighting should remain lit for pedestrian/children safety.)
Participant children and parents should wear face coverings consistent with CDC guidelines (in addition to costumes). Children should be supervised and encouraged to use all of the hygiene safety protocols we have been using all year (hand sanitizer, not touching your face, etc.).
Families should travel in smaller groups (close friends and/or family members only) and not mix with others that they don’t normally interact with. Staying closer to home is safer than traveling outside your area.
Social distancing should be practiced throughout the evening and children should be discouraged from entering any house. Homeowners should consider delivering candy outside and separating themselves from the children with a table or other barrier.
Of course, the routine Halloween safety tips still apply:
Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to
the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
Join kids under age 12 for trick-or-treating. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, tell them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks (except for COVID face coverings), which can obstruct a child’s vision.
Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
Get rid of any distractions - like your phone - in your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
Turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Be especially alert for kids during those hours.
The Borough wishes everyone a safe and happy Halloween.
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