By Public Safety
Halloween Safety Tips
Halloween is one of the most popular holidays of the year. It’s important to pay attention to your surroundings and use your best judgment at any college party, but take special precautions when people will be in costume and possibly consuming alcohol. This lighthearted holiday does not come without its share of potential safety risks.
Remember these Halloween safety tips this weekend:
1. Be strategic with your costume. If you’re going to dress up, be sure to wear something that does not restrict your movement, nor impairs your vision.
2. Wherever you decide to go, obey laws, rules, and regulations. You don’t want to get arrested, kicked out of school, or injured!
3. Watch your drink. If you’re going to drink, do so responsibly. Never leave your drink unattended. Someone with harmful intentions could slip something into your cup or bottle in the blink of an eye.
4. Know your limits. You don’t have to be drunk to have a good time on Halloween. Binge drinking is dangerous.
5. Don’t drink and drive. Never accept a ride from someone that has been drinking, even if they’ve “only had a couple beers” or say they’re “only buzzed, not drunk.”
6. If you’re a designated driver, be extra careful on the roads. Other people who didn’t choose a DD may be breaking the law and driving while intoxicated, putting themselves as well as you and your friends in danger.
7. Decorate safely. Make sure valuables and breakables are put away safely.
8. Light your jack o’ lanterns with glow sticks instead of real candles, which are a fire hazard.
9. Use the buddy system. Don’t go to a Halloween party without a good friend. Make a pact to
arrive and leave together, and keep tabs on each other all evening.
10. If you must walk home after dark, walk with at least one other person; stay on a well-lit path.
11. Calling campus police for assistance or using a ride-share service might be a safer option.
12. Be kind but cautious. College can be an incredibly social place, but be on your toes when
meeting new people who are wearing costumes, especially outfits that hide their faces or
change their voices. That person might have ill intentions.
13. Keep your phone turned on and easily accessible. Before heading out for the night, be sure your phone is fully charged and the ringer volume is turned up in the event that a friend is trying to reach you.
14. Carry emergency cash. Keep cash tucked inside your pocket or costume.
15. Trust your instincts. On Halloween or any other night, if something “just doesn’t feel right” trust your gut instinct. Leave the party, don’t accept the drink, or just say no to whatever it is that’s making you uncomfortable. Your safety is more important than a party or possibly upsetting a friend.
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