MEMPHIS, TN - The monsters and mummies may not be the scariest things hitting the sidewalks this Halloween. A lot of people are afraid of getting the swine flu.
Dressing up as the swine flu, it may be a hot costume this year, but it's also something to be mindful of before you send your kids trick or treating.
"It's really scary," said Dr. Ann Payne-Johnson at Baptist Memorial Hospital. "If they go trick or treating, I don't think it's necessarily putting them at increased risk, but hand washing in between opening candy from one place and then going to another place and opening more candy."
Some parents are rethinking how they do things.
"I'll always think of the kids first,” said Sharon Drane. “So I definitely would make sure anything I pass out, oh gosh, I guess I'll wipe off the candy bags before I put them out. I don't know, but that's a good point to think about."
There are other things you can do to keep kids from getting the flu during all the festivities.
"Definitely don't share costumes,” Dr. Payne-Johnson said. “If your child has a party to go to, make sure they have their own costume. Definitely don't share masks. That's one big precaution right now."
She says to make kids stay home if they aren't feeling well, but don't take their word for it.
"A lot of kids will probably not tell you around the time of parties and stuff,” Dr. Payne-Johnson said. “So it's a good time to keep an eye on them and feel your child and give them a hug and see how they feel."
Another way to avoid spreading germs this Halloween: when you greet Trick-or-Treaters, give out the candy yourself, or scoop it out, rather than let all the kids reach in and get it themselves.
Doctors say the vaccine is the best way to keep your kids from getting the flu this Halloween. It takes a while to be effective after you get the vaccine, so doctors say you need to get it now if it's available.
