Chloe Adams
Blowing out birthday candles is a long-standing tradition, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made many people more conscious of the potential health risks involved. The act of blowing out candles and potentially spreading airborne viruses has understandably made a lot of people uncomfortable, sparking a debate about whether this tradition should be retired or adapted. This paragraph will explore the different perspectives and suggestions surrounding this topic.
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What You'll Learn
- Blowing out birthday candles during COVID-19 could spread airborne viruses
- Experts recommend refraining from blowing out candles, especially indoors or in public
- Alternatives to blowing out candles include celebrating outside or separating candles from the cake
- Blowing out birthday candles spreads 1400% more bacteria on the icing
- The risk of spreading COVID-19 is lower if you're celebrating with your immediate family
Blowing out birthday candles during COVID-19 could spread airborne viruses
Blowing out birthday candles is a long-standing tradition, but it's understandable if people feel uncomfortable about it during the COVID-19 pandemic. The act of blowing out candles can spread airborne viruses, just as breathing, talking, or coughing might.
Dr. S. Patrick Kachur, a professor of population and family health at Columbia University, says that he doesn't plan on blowing out birthday candles and encourages others to refrain, especially if they are indoors or in a public space. Dr. Kachur suggests that every risk can be mitigated to some extent, and offers the following alternatives: celebrating outside, separating the candles from the cake, or using a paper fan to extinguish the candles.
Dr. David M. Aronoff, director of Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Division of Infectious Diseases, agrees that blowing out birthday candles can be risky, as it projects breath a longer distance than regular breathing or speaking. This could be dangerous if the person blowing out the candles is infected with SARS-CoV-2 and doesn't know it. Dr. Aronoff suggests that the risk is lower if the person blowing out the candles is doing so around their immediate family or household members, as they are likely already sharing breaths without masks on. However, he advises being extra cautious when inviting older or higher-risk individuals from outside the household to the celebration, as children can also spread coronavirus.
Even without COVID-19, the tradition of blowing out birthday candles is not encouraged. A study published in the Journal of Food Research showed that blowing out candles resulted in 1400% more bacteria on the icing. So, while it may be a beloved tradition, it's important to be mindful of the potential health risks involved, especially during a pandemic.
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Experts recommend refraining from blowing out candles, especially indoors or in public
Blowing out birthday candles is a long-standing tradition, but it has become a cause for concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. The act of blowing out candles and potentially spreading airborne viruses understandably makes many people uncomfortable. Experts recommend refraining from blowing out candles, especially indoors or in public.
Dr. S. Patrick Kachur, a professor of population and family health at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, does not plan on blowing out candles on his birthday cake and encourages others to do the same, especially if they are in an indoor or public space. "Blowing out candles can expel virus particles, just like breathing, talking, singing, shouting, coughing, and sneezing, if the person is infected," he said.
Dr. David M. Aronoff, director of Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Division of Infectious Diseases, agrees that blowing out birthday candles can be risky, especially if you are celebrating with people outside your immediate family or quarantine bubble. "This is problematic because it could be the case that the person blowing out the candles is infected with SARS-CoV-2 and does not know it," he said. The risk is lower if you are only celebrating with your immediate family, as you are already regularly sharing breaths without masks on.
If you want to reduce the risk of spreading viruses, there are alternatives to the traditional candle-blowing moment. Dr. Kachur suggests celebrating outside or separating the candles from the cake. Other creative alternatives include using a paper fan to extinguish the candles or having the guest of honor blow out a single candle on an individual cupcake.
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Alternatives to blowing out candles include celebrating outside or separating candles from the cake
Blowing out birthday candles is a long-standing tradition, but it has become a cause for concern during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the potential spread of germs and viruses. While the risk of viral transfer from blowing out candles is minimal, there are alternatives to this tradition that can help alleviate any anxiety or discomfort.
One option is to separate the candles from the cake. This can be done by providing the birthday celebrant with their own small cake or cupcake adorned with candles, while guests are served from a separate, untouched cake. This way, the person blowing out the candles can do so without potentially contaminating the cake that will be shared with others. Alternatively, the birthday boy or girl can carefully pluck each lit candle out of the cake and blow them out in their fingers, one by one, as demonstrated by Mitt Romney in a 2019 video. This method requires a steady hand and clean fingers to avoid touching the frosting.
Another option is to celebrate outdoors, where the risk of viral transmission is generally lower. By hosting the birthday celebration outside, guests can still participate in the traditional cake-cutting and candle-blowing ritual while mitigating the risk of indoor virus exposure.
In addition to separating candles from the cake and celebrating outdoors, there are other creative alternatives to the traditional birthday candle ritual. One idea is to use sparklers or cake fountains, which provide a festive and dramatic effect without the need for blowing. Another option is to attach candles to a bouquet of flowers or a balloon weight for a sparkly centerpiece. These alternatives allow for a safe and unique way to celebrate birthdays while maintaining the joy and symbolism of the occasion.
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Blowing out birthday candles spreads 1400% more bacteria on the icing
Blowing out birthday candles is a long-standing tradition, but it has come under scrutiny in recent years due to concerns about the spread of bacteria and, more recently, COVID-19.
A study published in the Journal of Food Research found that blowing out birthday candles results in 1400% more bacteria on the icing compared to when the candles are not blown out. The study, conducted by Paul Dawson, a professor of food safety at Clemson University, aimed to examine the potential spread of bacteria when blowing out candles on a birthday cake.
The experiment involved spreading icing on foil and placing birthday candles through the foil into a Styrofoam base. Test subjects consumed pizza before blowing out the candles, and then icing samples were recovered to determine the level of bacterial contamination. The results showed a significant increase in bacteria due to the transfer of oral bacteria to the icing.
While the study found a substantial increase in bacteria, doctors and experts do not seem overly concerned about it being a significant health risk. Dr. Leavey stated that "viewing the birthday candle bacteria issue through the lens of historical reality, this does not appear to be a significant vector for disease." Similarly, Dawson noted that birthday parties should not be ruined due to this, and the chances of getting sick are likely very minimal.
However, in the context of COVID-19, some experts have recommended refraining from blowing out birthday candles, especially in indoor or public spaces. Dr. S. Patrick Kachur, a professor of population and family health, encourages people to find alternatives to the traditional candle-blowing, such as separating the cake and candles or celebrating outdoors. Dr. David M. Aronoff, director of Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Division of Infectious Diseases, also emphasizes the risk of blowing out candles when celebrating with individuals outside of one's immediate family or quarantine bubble.
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The risk of spreading COVID-19 is lower if you're celebrating with your immediate family
Blowing out birthday candles is a long-standing tradition, but it has become a cause for concern during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the potential spread of airborne viruses. While it may be a harmless tradition, it can be risky if you are celebrating with people outside your immediate family or quarantine bubble.
Dr. S. Patrick Kachur, a professor of population and family health at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, advises against blowing out birthday candles, especially in indoor or public spaces. He compares it to breathing, talking, and coughing, which can all expel virus particles if the person is infected. Dr. David M. Aronoff, director of Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Division of Infectious Diseases, agrees that blowing out birthday candles can be risky as it projects breath a longer distance than regular breathing or speaking.
However, if you are celebrating with your immediate family, the risk of spreading COVID-19 is lower. Dr. Aronoff explains that if the person blowing out the candles is doing so around people they already live with, they are likely already sharing breaths without masks on. Therefore, the risk is not as high as it would be in public or with people from different households. It is important to note that children can also spread coronavirus, so families with older or high-risk members should be cautious.
If you want to reduce the risk further, there are some creative alternatives to the traditional candle-blowing. For example, you can separate the candles from the cake, celebrate outdoors, or use a paper fan to extinguish the flames. You can also provide individual cupcakes so that each guest can blow out their own candle. While these alternatives may not be as traditional, they can help make your celebration safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
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Frequently asked questions
Blowing out birthday candles can expel virus particles, just like breathing, talking, singing, shouting, coughing and sneezing, if the person is infected. Therefore, it is advised to refrain from blowing out birthday candles, especially if you are indoors or in a public space.
You could separate the candles from the cake and use a paper fan to extinguish the flames. Alternatively, you could get an individual cupcake so the guest of honour can blow out a single candle.
If you are celebrating with people you live with, the risk is not as high as the candle-blower would be blowing out the candles in public or around people outside their household. However, if you have older family members or people at higher risk of severe illness attending, it is advised to refrain from blowing out candles.
