Before Halloween arrives and thousands of people head out to the streets with their costumes for the night, either heading to their neighborhood to knock on doors for treats or going to parties, it’s best to stay safe while going around at night when anything can happen, both tricks and treats. There are several ways you can plan and prepare yourself before you go out into the night, so here’s some safety tips you can follow to secure a safe night of trick-or-treating.

1. Never go alone: Although people go trick-or-treating together as a group with family or friends, there are times when someone decides to just go out alone to get their own candy, which can be dangerous in many cases. If possible, have an adult chaperon at all times while trick-or-treating, or stay in more populated areas that are recognizable to you. Make sure no one in your friend group gets separated at any moment and keep close when walking around. Consider using a tracking app such as Life 360 to know the whereabouts of your family and friends.

2. Never eat the candy you receive until having examined them: Throughout the history of Halloween, there have been stories and reports of candy being tampered with and then given out to kids on the night of Halloween. Things such as drugs, sharp objects, poison and more have been reported and found in candies that kids receive when trick-or-treating. Although these cases of tampering of candies are uncommon, there have still been cases where kids have been injured or even killed when consuming candy that they did not check before. Ways to avoid getting harmed or worse when enjoying candy is examining them beforehand, such as cutting them open, looking at the wrapper to see if it’s been tampered with or simply not eating it and throwing it away. Some tips you can follow to make sure you get safe candies is trick-or-treating in a neighborhood you know and trust, such as your own neighborhood where you might know your neighbors or simply buying your own and not giving out any, which is just as enjoyable.

3. Plan out the night: If you know what neighborhood has the biggest candy bars or the coolest looking houses then you should totally go, but make sure you know where you’re going and when you’re going. Make a map of where you will start and where you will end and around what times you plan on starting and ending. Some other things you can take into consideration when planning your night is who is going, who needs a ride, what times are convenient for everyone and most importantly where the houses with the biggest candies are. Planning out the night allows for safety, for if someone is to get separated from the group, they know the path you all planned on taking, and can find their way back faster. 

4. What you should take: There are certain items you should take when going out. Things such as a candy bag and your costume are necessary, but there are more things you should take for safety and convenience. Spare clothes and shoes can be useful if your shoes cause pain or if you wear a costume that is bothersome and you know you will take it off later in the night. Other items to take are a portable charger and batteries if needed for your phone and flashlight if you are staying out late. Lastly, you should take some water and a flashlight because you are bound to be walking for hours and getting water may not be available at the moment, so it’s best to take some by hand, and the flashlight for if you’re to be walking in dark areas where there isn’t much light source. A possible item to carry around for more security is an emergency card with information about where you live, contact information, name and phone number for if you’re to get lost and need to seek help. From there, all the important information needed can be found and used to contact guardians in the case of an emergency.

5. Keep awareness: Throughout the night you are bound to lose concentration while walking around looking at decorations, going through haunted houses or having a fun time with your friends, but you should always have awareness of your surroundings. If you see some suspicious activity, report it to an adult or contact authorities, and avoid getting close to the situation. Watch over the people in your group and make sure no one gets separated. Make sure to look both ways before crossing a street, for some drivers may be distracted while driving. According to autoinsurance.org, “Due to the excitement of the night, pedestrians have a 50% more chance of dying on Halloween than the average day, and 18% of the people who die in fatal crashes on Halloween are children.”. With knowing this, it’s best to stay on the sidewalk and avoid walking on the street, especially in the dark if you don’t have a light or anything to reflect yourself and make yourself noticeable. Keeping awareness is key to safety, especially when wearing a costume that might impair your vision or walking in populated areas where you might get separated from your group.

Halloween is a time of the year where anyone can enjoy dressing up as anything and receive delicious treats and candies for free, but with it comes lots of dangers and hazards that can be avoided and prevented as long as you follow these safety tips to stay safe for the night. Enjoy the candies and scares, and have a Happy Halloween.