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Writer's pictureNurse Jessica Sites

Buckle Up Nurses! For Halloween Full Moon 2020


This weekend is Halloween and if you have seen any good horror films lately you can probably guess the ERs will be full of victims of attempted serial slayings, heart attacks from being scared to near death, too much candy tummy aches, and the occasional razor blade in the apple trick (Halloween 2 if you aren’t familiar). That’s not really what happens, but the ERs do tend to fill up during the Halloween festivities, usually because cars and tiny pedestrians dressed in dark colors are not a good combination. This year, though, I fully expect extra weird because 2020 needed a full moon on October 31.


Why would the phase of the moon have any kind of effect on people ending up in the ER? Honestly, I don’t know the answer to that, but according to Almanac.com 43% of healthcare professionals will agree that a full moon definitely influences the amount of interesting cases in the ER and an influx of moms-to-be being admitted to L & D. Even more interesting is that 81% of mental health professionals believe the full moon has an effect and if anyone knows anything about things getting a little weird, it’s our brethren in the mental health field. Saints, every single one.


Some people call this superstition but I think that history sides with me on the full moon making people just a little crazy. For example, the Latin term for moon is Luna, which is also the base for words like LUNAtic or LUNAcy. We’ve all heard the term “Loony bin” when referring to the psych ward. So, if the moon isn’t playing with our sanity, why the creative wordplay?


As for babies being born, science doesn’t truly back up the notion that more babies are born on a full moon, but there does seem to be an increase before and after the full moon. Allow me to pose a theory- women go into labor on the full moon and the baby is born a day or two after, once the full moon has ended. It just makes sense that the process starts on a full moon but ends when it ends. Can’t rush a baby.


The last time there was a full moon on Halloween was 1944. In 1944, we were in the middle of World War 2 and untold human rights atrocities were being committed, D-Day landings happened, sports were cancelled, 4 tornadoes struck the area of America known as Appalachia on one day killing 153 people, American’s raised the flag at Iwo Jima, riots in Mexico City, Anne Frank was arrested, Paris was destroyed, 48 people died in a train accident- the list continues, but I’m sure you get it. It was also a terrible year, not unlike this year. There aren’t many numbers on how many people ended up in hospitals for non-war related injuries out there, but judging by how things were going, I’ll assume it was more than a couple.


So, buckle up witches! This Halloween might be scarier than you can imagine! Of course, it could also be completely boring because everyone will choose the socially responsible thing and stay home due to the PANDEMIC. Who am I kidding? 40% of the population will be knocking on doors and trading tricks for treats. I get it. We all need a treat right now. If we can survive Halloween 2020, we can survive just about anything!


Here’s a tip: the next time Halloween and the full moon coincide will be the year 2039. I’m not making any promises, but that could shape up to be a pretty rough year. Be ever vigilant my friends! Happy Halloween!

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