5 Tricks to Stay Safe on Halloween
Halloween is a popular night for dressing up and celebrating through the night. Unfortunately, it’s also a popular night for criminals. In fact, crimes such as pickpockets, harassment, and assault surge on Halloween. When the spooky holiday rolls around, it’s important to keep yourself safe. With a little bit of preparation and knowledge, you can prevent yourself from becoming the victim of a crime. Like any other busy night out, it’s crucial to inform friends and family where you are going. With that in mind, here are five tips for staying safe on Halloween
Avoid Going Out Alone
It is never a good idea to walk around by yourself at night. It’s safest to go out with a group of friends. If you do not have someone to join you for the evening, make sure you stay with your friends and stick together. This way, if something happens, you have people to help and support you. So make sure you tell your friends and family where you will be going and how long the route will take. Seeing as most crimes happen at night, it’s best not to walk home alone after dark. Going out with friends will lower your chances of getting mugged or any other terrible things that can happen when people go out by themselves.
Making sure you’re visible to drivers at night with light is the best way to prevent yourself from getting hit by a car or bicycle, so carrying a flashlight or even your phone’s flashlight function will help you stay safe. Whether it be for calling an Uber home after dark, using it as a light to walk to your home/apartment or to help you see where you’re walking at night.
Always Watch Your Drink
If you’re attending a party or a bar, never leave your drink unattended. You don’t want someone to slip something in your drink while you are not looking. It’s also a good idea to never accept a drink from just anyone. There are many incidents where people accept drinks and then get drugged at the party/bar.
If you’re attending a party with friends, try bringing your own drinks in their original bottles/cans. This way, you will know precisely what you are consuming and keep track of your alcohol intake.
Be Aware of Drugs That Look Like Candy
There are people out there that may choose to take advantage of the holiday by giving out drugs that look like candy. So be aware if someone offers you “candy” on Halloween.
If you’re going to a party and suspect there might be drugs disguised as candy, turn the candy over and look for small markings on the candies that come in wrapped packaging. Often the drug will be marked with a small symbol. If something feels off, safe, or unsafe, it’s best to err on the side of caution and go with your gut. Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, then it probably isn’t.
Alcohol and Energy Drinks: Not a Good Combination
If you choose to drink alcohol, it’s best not to mix it with energy drinks. Energy drinks mask the feeling of being drunk and can cause people to drink more than they typically would because they aren’t feeling the effects of the alcohol as much. This increases the risk of alcohol poisoning and other dangers associated with drinking.
Know Your Limit
Know how much you can handle before you drink too much and put yourself at risk for any number of dangers, including but not limited to: sexual assault, vandalism, robbery, or accidents leading to injury or death. Keeping track of your drinks by counting, marking glasses with a napkin, or using some other system will help you keep track of how much you’re drinking. Alcohol is metabolized at the rate of about one drink an hour (give or take 15 minutes), so consider waiting 45 minutes after your first drink before having another. This gives your body some time to process the alcohol.
If you plan on going out to any parties and know there will be alcohol involved, it’s best to take public transportation or use a ride-sharing service. This way, you are less likely to find yourself in an unsafe situation.
TBYS is an HIV awareness organization that aims to raise awareness and educate young people on the importance of safely having fun. Have fun this spooky holiday by following TBYS’s five tips above for staying safe on Halloween. Learn more about TBYS here.
