(McClatchy-Tribune Information Services) -- Halloween can be a scary night for children.

But this year, it's the parents who are spooked.

Worried about the spread of the H1N1 virus, which has infected more than a million Americans and killed more than 1,000, many parents and event organizers are changing the way they do things this Halloween.

Some are stockpiling hand sanitizer. Others have decided not to pass out candy or let their kids go trick-or-treating. A few are steering clear of bounce houses and other breeding grounds for germs.

"I would say bobbing for apples would definitely be out -- not a good idea," said Dr. Gary Weinstein, chief of critical-care medicine at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. "And bounce houses? They are filled with secretions from coughs and snot and everything else. I think from a health standpoint, that is risky behavior.

"As a parent, you don't want to be hysterical, but you want your kids to be safe. Anything you do to decrease their exposure is a sensible thing."

Tiffany Fulcher, 33, a mother of two in Mansfield, is among those making changes because of the H1N1 pandemic. For starters, her kids aren't wearing store-bought costumes.

"We went to Target and kids were coughing and looking through the costumes," said Fulcher, a freelance writer and instructor at Tarrant County College. "I left the store and said, 'I'm going to do something at home.'"

Her 6-year-old daughter will be a cowgirl, and her 2-year-old son will be a cowboy, costumes that required almost no store-bought material. Fulcher has also decided not to let her family pass out candy this year.

Instead, she said, she will put a large bowl of candy on a small round table on her porch, with a polite sign: "Take one please."

"I think the kids in the neighborhood will be very respectful," Fulcher said, adding that her children will be attending a festival instead of trick-or-treating. "I think I'm doing exactly what is appropriate. I don't think when it comes to the flu there is any overreaction."

Stacy Decuir, 35, a mother of two in Arlington, is in charge of a school party today for her 5-year-old daughter Jaydn's kindergarten class. Decuir said she planned the menu with the swine flu in mind, asking parents to provide prepackaged apple slices, carrots, chips and trail mix.

"I stressed prepackaged," Decuir said. "This virus is airborne. It is serious. We don't want hands in bowls."

Likewise, event organizers across the Metroplex are erring on the side of caution.

Hand sanitizers will be on full display today at Haltom Halloween in Haltom City. Organizers have also posted signs around the recreation center reminding visitors to consider others if they feel ill.

"We posted notices here at the center saying if you have a cold, fever or cough, do everyone a favor and stay home," said Tom Henry, the city's director of parks and recreation.

At North Richland Hills' sixth annual Hoot n' Howl on Saturday, hand sanitizers will be at all the carnival-game stations, booths and bounce houses, said Mary Peters, spokeswoman for the city. Candy will be individually wrapped and handed out by volunteers who have been instructed to sanitize their hands repeatedly, she said.

Jacie Russell, an infection prevention specialist at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, said the best way to protect children is to keep them home if they are sick, teach them to stand about 3 feet from people, and to repeatedly wash and sanitize their hands.

"Bring hand sanitizer when trick-or-treating," Russell said. "And I would have a parent giving out candy, as opposed to letting kids put their hand in the bowl. If parents are diligent about good hand hygiene and social distancing, then they should be able to keep their children protected."

Michael Bennett, 53, a father of three in Fort Worth, is among those who refuse to let the swine flu scare off family and friends and ruin his Halloween tradition.

"We all meet at our house, and the dads take the kids trick-or-treating, and, later, the kids divide up the candy and trade what they like and don't like," Bennett said. "That is our Halloween, and we don't plan on letting this impact that."

Bennett paused.

"But we may take a little packet of hand sanitizer along."

Copyright (C) 2009, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas