Halloween, the spookiest night of the year. The scariest part of this holiday season is not the costumes and gory details, it is now the safety issues that present itself with the festivities. The combination of darkness and concealed identities can create very dangerous environments for the majority of juvenile participants. Senior Ellie Sugden-Kundar concurs with this sentiment, emphasizing that “Halloween is a dangerous holiday due to the time of day that the holiday is normally celebrated, as well as all of the children.” To prevent any accidents, it is important to know what hazards to look out for and how to address them.
A very big aspect of Halloween is the costumes; however, those costumes bring up a problem: they hide a person’s likeness. Senior James Bush agrees that, with a costume, “you never know sometimes; they’ll have masks, and you don’t know who the person is or if they have malicious intent.” A simple mask, or disguise of sorts, can make it easy for a stranger to lure children, under the guise that they are a familiar face or the knowledge that they will face very few repercussions when no one can recognize them.
To reduce the likelihood of being taken away by an unknown individual, it is imperative that one travels with a group or a trusted adult when going from door to door. Comfort comes in numbers in this situation, so having a group who can be accountable for each other can warn off unwanted faces in the dark environment.
The threats do not all come from intentional perpetrators—it can also be unforeseen accidents that end in tragedy. With the lights only coming from the street and neighboring houses, it is completely possible for someone to be overlooked by active drivers. Darker colors, like black, are staple colors for Halloween, which also makes a person susceptible to being lost in the darkness. This is why it is important to wear lights, like glowsticks, or reflective clothing during this night. Senior James Bush remarks that “I think it would be cool wearing [reflective pieces], and I think wearing something stylish and shiny is creative.”
Whether you are participating in the height of the festive events, it should also be mentioned that perspective drivers should be extra cautious on the night of Halloween. This is the evening when there will be extra foot traffic and young children rushing through the streets to get to the next house on their candy hunt. Following speed limits, being offensive drivers, and spreading awareness to others will significantly drop the likelihood of unintentional accidents.
Halloween is a night of fun and celebration, but it is always important to take the proper precautions. Being conscientious of the dangers and preventing them beforehand will allow for everyone to indulge in the treats of their sweet scavenge and not be tricked into tragedy.
