If you’re like me, you’ve been counting down to Halloween weekend (lovingly referred to as “Halloweekend”) for months! This is often the weekend of the year full of glitz, gore, and glamour. However, it’s SO important to have the toolkit to stay safe in your wicked adventures! As women, we need to be looking out for each other. If you see a girl in trouble, help her out! These tips aren’t exclusive to you; spread awareness and keep Halloweekend scary safe for you and your ghoul-friends!
stay together
When going out, utilizing the buddy system is extremely important. Making sure that you or your friend are never alone can help ward off unwanted attention and/or activity. There is safety in numbers! Never let a friend go anywhere by themselves- this includes bathrooms, cars, houses, etc.! Keeping eyes on your friends allows everyone to have fun in a safe group environment.
Additionally, it’s a great idea to have a designated sober friend if drinking is involved! While this may not be someone’s ideal role for the night, it can majorly impact the overall wellness of the friend group. This is ESPECIALLY important when driving is on the table! Having a designated driver is the best move to make sure everyone gets home safe and sound without splitting up into different rideshares or walking alone.
Going out with your girls should always be something to look forward to! Being together provides a natural way to consider you and your friends’ safety. You can even make it fun! Switch up the buddy system each time or have fun matching bracelets! It’s so important to find fun ways to incorporate safety skills when going out to preserve the vibe of the night while being protected.
Guard your drinks
With the rise of “date rape drugs” and their increasing availability, it is vitally important to keep an eye on your drinks. A basic tip is not to leave your drink! It can be so easy to set it down for a second to grab something from your purse or to take a quick picture. However, these drugs can be put in drinks in a split second and are often undetectable once in the drink. A good rule of thumb is: if you set down your drink, leave it! On the topic of preventing drugging, drink covers are becoming more and more popular! These are small covers that go over the top of your drink that you can keep in a pocket or a bag! This is a great way to feel more confident about the drink in your hand and what you’re putting in your body! A final tip: NEVER take a premade or open drink from someone! This extends beyond strangers too; unfortunately, a considerable portion of druggings and assaults are from someone you know. Always watch your drink being made or opened, and do not leave it with anyone you do not absolutely, 100% trust.
It is not a crime to enjoy your night out, but it is important to be safe! Alcohol is often a major factor of going out, and this is especially true for Halloweekend. Knowing ways to protect your drink will ensure you have a safe and healthy weekend. If you suspect you have been drugged, immediately call someone you trust who is sober to take you to the nearest hospital for testing.
Send the texts!
Spam your friends and family! Send your location, details of your night, and selfies throughout the party! Keeping trusted people in-the-know about what you’re doing, how you’re feeling, and who you’re with is a great way to stay safe while you’re out. This ensures that if there is a long pause in communication or someone is unable to reach you, there is a paper trail and precedent set.
Apps like Life360 are great to set up with friends and family for these situations! Keeping track of locations as well as driving activity helps everyone stay safe and accountable. This also applies to watching rideshares and walks home! This is a vulnerable time if you have consumed alcohol, and should be a time when safety is the top priority. Sexual assault is unfortunately highly commonly experienced by women in rideshares, so if possible carpool with friends. If this is not an option, try to share a ride with multiple friends, so you are not alone. During rides, share with a trusted person who you’re with your eta, and how you’re currently feeling.
It is so easy to think that you’re bothering someone by sharing all of these details. But I promise, you will never be viewed as an annoyance. Your safety is the #1 priority. The people you trust will share this opinion and work with you to create a safety plan.
Halloweekend should be a highlight of your year. Having these tips in your back pocket to stay safe will hopefully allow you to have only great Halloween memories. Watch out for yourself and your friends in order to have a spooky, but not a truly SCARY weekend. Rock your costume and your safety skills! Simply being aware can help prevent so many potential issues and clear the way for a night to remember. So, remember these tips, get dressed up, and go have the time of your life! You go, ghoul!