October 31, 2022 3:00 a.m.

With Halloween events taking place, the Oregon Health Authority is offering tips for staying safe from injuries and illnesses while celebrating.

While the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have dropped dramatically since the surges of early this year, public health officials expect another increase in cases of COVID-19, as well as influenza and other respiratory viruses, as people head indoors to escape the cold, wet fall weather. OHA is recommending that residents get their COVID-19 and flu vaccines as soon as possible.

After trick-or-treating, inspect all candy and treats to make sure wrapping hasn’t been tampered with – look for unusual appearance, discoloration and any tears in wrappers. Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys from Halloween bags.

Costumes should be made with flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon and with bright reflective colors or reflective tape so they are visible to motorists, bicyclists and other pedestrians.

More Halloween safety ideas are available at: https://www.safekids.org/tip/halloween-safety-tips?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery