October 24, 2025

Dear Amazing Centennial Valley Pediatrics Patients and Families,

We hope this email finds you all healthy and well!

Fall is here, and that means cooler days, crunchy leaves, and Halloween! Read on for some Halloween safety tips, so your little goblins can have a fun, but safe, time out there!

Fall is also time to remember your vaccines for the upcoming sick season--RSV, influenza, and covid can be dangerous for our kids, so let's get them protected!

Happy Halloween!!

Trick-or-treaters need to see and be seen.

• Use face makeup instead of masks. Test for allergic reactions prior to applying it all over!
• Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags. If possible, have everyone wear light-colored clothing. Children can also carry flashlights.
• When choosing costumes, stay away from long trailing fabric so no one trips and falls. Choose flame-resistant costumes and wigs.
• Avoid using decorative contact lenses to avoid problems with your eyes.

A sobering statistic - children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year

• Have your trick or treaters walk only on sidewalks, not in the street. If there are no sidewalks, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic. Look both ways before crossing the street, and cross only at the corner. Don’t cross between parked cars, and don’t cut across yards or use alleys.
• Drivers — use extra caution as youngsters may forget to look both ways before crossing. As the sun goes down, watch for children in dark clothing.
• Give trick-or-treaters a flashlight to light their way.
• A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children door-to-door. Put phones away and keep close watch.
• If older children are going alone, plan their route. Set a specific time they should return home. Teach them to only visit homes that have a porch light on, to accept treats at the door and never go inside.
• Check all goodies before the kids dig in. Make sure to remove loose candy, open packages and remove any choking hazards. Discard any items with brand names that you are not familiar with. If your child has food allergies, check carefully for these and discard.

• Light the area well and sweep leaves from your sidewalks and steps. Clear obstacles someone could trip over.
• If carving pumpkins, don’t use candles to light them. Instead, try battery-operated lights or glow sticks.
• Avoid scary decorations/jump scares near steps—children will go running and you don’t want them to fall down the stairs.

• Influenza
• RSV
• Covid-19 (for ages 6mo-11yrs)

• Newborn-5 months old--RSV 
• 6-7 months old--Influenza, Covid-19, RSV
• 8 months-23 months--Influenza, Covid-19, (RSV if in high risk groups)
• 2 yrs and older--Influenza, (Covid-19--should get if in high risk group, can get if desired otherwise)

Call to schedule today! Covid and Influenza vaccines are also available at pharmacies for children age 3yrs+.

{Covid-19 vaccine is available at pharmacies for children 12 yrs+. You do NOT need a prescription or a doctor's visit to get it.}

• Please, PLEASE, check and DOUBLE CHECK the reminder that you get for your appointments. The office location is in this reminder. Remember, we have two locations.
• If you come to the wrong location for your appointment, you will likely not be able to be seen and will have to reschedule. We cannot just squeeze you in to a schedule you are not on, and you will be much too late if you try to go to the other office.
• We truly regret turning anyone away, but it is not fair to the rest of the scheduled patients to see you late and make everyone else late as well. We know how frustrating this would be for you, so please, PLEASE be sure you know which office your appointment is scheduled in. 

Thank you!!

We love and appreciate our patients and families! Stay safe and healthy this Halloween!

Love, Centennial Valley Pediatrics Providers and Staff