October is the month for all things fall and spooky fun. Halloween is an annual holiday celebrated each year on October 31 and this year Halloween occurs on a Thursday night. Halloween is a day for people to dress up in elaborate, gory, or funny costumes while getting candy or participating in the spine-tingling festivities of the night.
Halloween is the time of year for children to go trick or treating, while teenagers and adults go to thrilling haunted houses or Halloween parties. This holiday is always viewed as fun, but there are many dangers lurking behind all of the sinister smiling jack-o’-lanterns.
Trick or treating may just end up being a trick, due to the bogeyman next door who befouls the candy before giving it to the unsuspecting children. The threat of tainted candy scares many parents away from letting their children go trick or treating. They would rather buy their own candy and keep the children inside watching scary movies in the safety of their own home.
Another threat of Halloween includes pedestrian fatalities. This holiday heightens the pedestrian traffic risks due to masks that may restrict peripheral vision, the darkness because of the activities that start at dusk, people impaired by alcohol, and the costumes limiting visibility for drivers.
The average pedestrian fatalities on Halloween is 5.5 compared to the average number of 2.6 on other days. Pedestrian fatalities doubles on Halloween due to the increase of pedestrians and the consumption of alcohol.
Vandalism is at its highest on Halloween night. Property crimes increase by around twenty-four percent on Halloween. Nineteen percent of this is vandalism and malicious mischief, twenty-one percent is off-premises theft, and sixty percent is theft from the home.
While there are many dangers and downsides to Halloween, there are also many fun and productive aspects about this holiday. It is a day where many people can show their artistic sides either through making their own costumes or by doing their own makeup to match their costumes.
Many adults and adolescents go to costume parties and drink on this night. Underage drinking by adolescents is also a danger, due to their bodies not being able to handle the effects of alcohol. Others like to stay inside curled up in a cozy blanket watching scary movies. Either of these choices are fine as long as people are safe, and are of the legal drinking age.
If you opt to go to a Halloween party, make sure not to drink and drive or get into a car with someone who is under the influence. Call a friend or request an Uber to ensure you can spend the next day reminiscing about the fun night you had.
Halloween is a holiday for everyone to enjoy costumes, candy, haunted houses, and many other fall activities. It is meant to be a fun holiday and should be celebrated in good spirits, but people should also know the dangers behind it.
Enjoy the spooky festivities with family and friends while being safe. Watch out for cars and look out for the people you are with who have been drinking. Dress up and have a good time, but be respectful of other people’s property. Let’s make this holiday known for its fun, rather than the dangers attached to it like the keep out tape decorating your door.