Halloween Safety Tips for Teenagers

Halloween Safety Tips for Teenagers

Halloween Safety:  Parties, Pranks, and Accident Prevention

Teens have historically pulled pranks, threw parties, and committed crimes on Halloween.  Freely talking to your teen about preventing criminal activities among their friends, preventing unlawful drinking, and preventing accidents can help teens draw boundaries which will keep them safe.

Black Cats and Graveyards

Teens tend to be fascinated by all things dark and dreary.  If your teen shows any interest in the dark side, watch activities closely up to Halloween.  Also, talk to your teen about unacceptable and illegal activities in which their friends may participate.  Your teen will likely let illegal plans slip, so listen for any codes/discussions about the following activities:

• Black cat hunting.  For many reasons believed to increase supernatural powers, teens and some adults hunt black cats around Halloween.  Sometimes the cats are confiscated weeks before Halloween for sacrifice on All Hallow’s Eve.  Talk to your teens about the dangers black cats may face around Halloween and how they can deter friends who may wish to sacrifice black cats.
• Graveyard activities.  Many illegal activities take place on Halloween in graveyards including drinking, drug use, grave digging, and grave vandalism.  Talking to teens about the dangers involved, including incarceration, will help them make wise, safe choices.

Pranks

The “trick” of Trick or Treat can get a little out of hand on Halloween.  Teens who love to play pranks may wish to take pranks to new levels, so talk to your kids about acceptable and unacceptable pranks.  Acceptable pranks can include:

• Forking a house.  Sticking plastic or metal forks all over a classmate’s yard can be fun and will not cause permanent damage.  Ask your teen to offer help with the clean-up, and the prank will be harmless.
• Gift wrapping or foiling.  Teens can also gift wrap or aluminum foil items so a friend must unwrap multiple items.  This works best with small items like purse contents or desk items: imagine a person having to unwrap every item on and in their desk.

Unacceptable pranks include anything that will harm personal property, including smearing vaseline under car handles, toilet papering in colored paper or streamers, and egging houses or cars.  Make sure your teen thinks through the personalities of both the parents and classmates before attempting a prank as well.  Some people may become very upset at the simplest and cleanest pranks, so teens should consider their target’s reactions.

rinking and Driving

The most unsafe activities that teens can participate in on Halloween are drinking and driving.  Although the combination of drinking and driving is especially potent, drinking and driving as separate activities are also more dangerous on Halloween.  Talk to your teens about parties and drinking before they head out for the evening, make sure you know where they are going, and caution them about how crazy Halloween parties can become, especially when drinking is involved.  As for driving, make sure your teens are more aware of children as they drive, and make sure they know they can call if they need a ride if they imbibe.

Overall, Halloween can be a fun and safe night for teens.  Let them know the increased dangers involved in Halloween activities, pranks, and parties, and your teens will enjoy a safer evening.