Staying Safe This Halloween
October 31st, 2013
October is the fourth-booziest month of the year, following the libation-heavy holidays of July, November, and December. Of course, the vast majority of October’s alcohol consumption falls on Halloween and its surrounding weekend nights, when many teens and adults venture out for tricks and treats of a more devious kind. Whether you plan to celebrate Halloween with a PSL or a pumpkin spice martini, ch
ances are you’ll be out and about — so keep in mind that Halloween involves some very real dangers.
In 2011, 38 percent of Halloween deaths involved a drunk driver, and 11 percent of those fatalities were pedestrians. Here are some tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for staying safe ‘n’ spooky this Hallows’ Eve.
If you plan to drive:
- Slow down and be alert in residential areas.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
- Eliminate distractions so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
- Always designate a sober driver and plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night if you plan on celebrating Halloween with alcohol.
- Use your community’s sober ride program or take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
- If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements to where they are going.
To keep kids safe:
- Children out at night and under the age of 12 should have adult supervision.
- Kids should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
- Choose face paint when possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
- Decorate costumes with reflective tape and have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights.
- Always cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
- Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
Even if you’re walking home from a party tonight, have a sober friend walk with you. There are bound to be more impaired drivers on the road than usual, and that ninja costume might be hard to spot.
Happy Halloween!
-Adrienne Hurst, Senior Editor
AllTreatment.com
