News

October 24, 2009

College cancels Halloween festivities

Concerns over swine flu prompts Misericordia to call off Safe Trick-or-Treat Night.

By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
Andrew M. Seder on Facebook   |   @TLAndrewSeder on Twitter

DALLAS TWP. – With seven students and one staff member who have tested positive for swine flu this semester, Misericordia University has canceled its annual Safe Trick-or-Treat Night for area residents that was scheduled for Sunday.

The cancellation of the annual event is being taken as a precaution to ensure that trick-or-treaters and the campus community are not unnecessarily exposed to the swine flu, also known as H1N1, or unknowingly spread it, according to school spokesman Paul Krzywicki.

Of the students who have reported a positive confirmation of the virus, four have returned to classes after remaining off campus for a week, in accordance with the school’s swine flu policy adopted earlier this year.

“In making this decision, we not only looked at the health and safety of the campus community, but at the health and safety of the young children who would be coming to campus,” Krzywicki said. “H1N1 is a concern for all of us, but especially young children. We know that this activity is enjoyed by our students as well as by the community. When we looked at the big picture and gathered information from health care providers, we decided that for the good of all it would be best to cancel trick-or-treating for this year.”

With students at school districts throughout Luzerne County, including Pittston Area and Greater Nanticoke Area, coming down with the strain of the virus, parents and others are on edge.

Though most Halloween events, including those held at shopping centers and municipalities, will go on as scheduled, some said the university’s decision was a wise one.

“We’re being warned of a problem looming, and I think it’s smart to take that step and not take any chances,” said Dallas Mayor Tim Carroll. Families from the borough and several surrounding municipalities attend the event that has children walk through a dormitory getting candy during their journey.

Bernard Healey, an epidemiologist and professor at King’s College, said the university’s precautionary move was probably best, but he said the swine flu scare should not alter Halloween festivities too much.

“We can’t let this panic take over our lives,” Healey said. He said his year-old grandson will be going out in search of candy.

He urged parents to accompany their young children so the parents can keep their eyes on what their children are touching and whether they’re interacting with others showing signs of the flu.

“We have to use common sense, but by the same token, life goes on,” Healey said. “To cancel (trick-or-treating) for the kids isn’t worth it. The risk isn’t that great. Go with them, get their treat and leave.”

The concern is that this strain of the flu seems to put those ages 5 to 24 at a greater risk than others, including the elderly who are usually the high-risk group during flu season.

Healey said children should keep their hands away from their mouths, stay away from those who are sneezing and make sure they are washing their hands and using sanitizer as often as possible.

At least one other planned trick-or-treating event has also been canceled this weekend. Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre has canceled its trick-or-treating that was scheduled for 1 p.m. today. Geisinger spokeswoman Amy Lingobardo said concern over the swine flu was the reason.

Hospital restrictions

Starting Monday, Geisinger Health System is screening visitors and restricting entrance to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township, Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and the inpatient areas of Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre to help limit the spread of swine flu among patients and staff members.

Hospital visitation restrictions are as follows:

• If you have a fever with cough or sore throat, please do not visit friends or family members who are in the hospital.

• If you have a fever with cough or sore throat and you must keep an appointment with a doctor, have a diagnostic test or undergo a procedure, you will be asked to wear a mask.

• Children age 12 and under are not allowed to visit the hospitals except in cases of a serious or critical family emergency, or if they have an appointment with a doctor. All children must wear a mask during their visits.

• Geisinger Wyoming Valley visitors are limited to the main entrance, east entrance and the emergency department. Everyone who comes to these public entrances will be screened. Visitors to Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre will be screened at the entrances to the facility’s inpatient departments.

Wyoming Valley Health Care System facilities – Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, First Hospital Wyoming Valley and Heritage House, a nursing care facility on Northampton Street in Wilkes-Barre – and Mercy Special Care Hospital in Nanticoke also enacted new visitation policies.

The new visitation policy prohibits anyone under the age of 18 or anyone suffering from a cold, fever or respiratory illness from visiting any patients. Only immediate family will be allowed to see patients in the obstetrics, pediatric or certain care units – critical care unit, surgical intensive care unit, cardiac-thoracic intensive care unit and cardiac step-down unit.

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