Halloween is such a fun time of year – it’s your opportunity to wear something different, be around friends, and take cool pictures.
And of course it means trick or treating – aka getting to eat more sweets than usual.
I’m not trying to scare you or anything but there are a few safety tips that it’s good to be aware of
Stick with your friends
It’s more fun anyway to be in a group (there’s more potential for group costumes).
Stay close to your friends throughout the night and if you do need to split off for any reason, make sure that you have someone else with you.
No one should be on their own at any point. It might even be a good move for everyone to switch on their location tracking for the night.
Map out where you’re going
Before heading out, plan your route. Share it with your parents/carers, so they know where you’ll be.
Stick to familiar neighbourhoods and well-lit areas. This goes for any time of year, but definitely avoid shortcuts through dark alleys or unfamiliar streets
Dress to be seen
If you can: avoid wearing too many dark colours, so you’re still visible to drivers.
I get it, you’ve probably spend a long time searching for the perfect outfit, so if you don’t want to customise the costume itself, try out these ideas:
Add reflective tape to your sweet bucket/ bag
Carry a flashlight with you or use the torch on your phone
Wear/hold glow sticks (these look great as part of a costume)
Check your treats
As tempting as it is to start eating any sweets you’ll get while you’re out, wait until you get home
Take a few minutes to inspect the sweets under good lighting. Toss anything that looks suspicious, is unwrapped, or has past it’s expiration date
Watch where you’re going
Staying alert while out is super important.
You’ll already know this, but look both ways before crossing the street, and always cross at a pedestrian crossing
And if you’re using your phone, keep paying attention to your surroundings
trick or treating can be really high energy and you could feel a bit distracted – that’s why it’s a good idea to have this tip in the back of your mind
Respect other people’s property
Only approach homes that have halloween decorations/a pumpkin on their doorstep as these are the ones welcoming trick-or- treaters.
It’s so important to be respectful of people’s property, e.g. avoid walking over
flower beds or putting your hands on windows.
And avoid knocking on doors too late – people may need to sleep early because of young children or early work shifts
If someone is kind enough to give you a treat, say thank you
By keeping these tips in mind, you can have a really great Halloween night. Stay aware, stick with friends, and (definitely) enjoy the treats
By Karis Harwood
