Knock, knock, here come all the trick or treaters! Halloween is just around the corner!

Though Halloween is an exciting and fun holiday, we must remember that sometimes others get too carried away. In order to stay safe during Halloween, whether it be while trick or treating or partying, we must take certain measures to make sure we have fun and get home in one piece.

Trick or Treating

1. Travel in groups

The bigger the group the better!

2. Take flashlights

It is starting to get darker earlier in the day, and not all streets have streetlights. So carrying some extra light will help light the way!

3. Take pepper spray

Taking pepper spray with you doesn't mean you will use it, it just means you are taking precaution for a "just in case moment."

4. Check your candy before you eat it

We all know we will want to start eating our candy as we are trick or treating, but the safest thing to do is wait until we get home. Some candy has been unwrapped or opened, and sometimes doesn't look normal. Every year when I would come home from trick or treating, my brother and I would dump our pillowcases full of candy and go through every piece to get rid of the bad stuff. Easy protocol!

Partying

1. Go out with a group of friends

Like I stated above, the bigger the group, the better. Going out with a lot of friends is much safer than going out and driving somewhere alone, especially on nights like these.

2. Have a designated driver or have your designated Uber/Lyft/Taxi caller.

Do not drive drunk or even tipsy. The worst situation you could put yourself or anybody else around you in, is driving under the influence. The safest thing to do is either have one friend be the driver for the night, or have one or two friends be the designated Uber and/or Lyft caller. It's much more worth it to spend a little bit more money on transportation than to put other's lives at risk.

3. Drink Responsibly

If your goal is to get sh** face drunk, then get sh** faced drunk responsibly. By that I mean, make sure you have a friend who will not be intoxicated to your level who can keep a birds eye on you. This way you won't end up going home with somebody who you really do not want to go home with or end up making other weird and/or bad decisions.

3a. Do not take drinks from weird strangers

Okay, so not all strangers are bad, but if you get a weird vibe from someone who is offering to get you a drink, chances are it's not a good sign. People often accept drinks from others that have been spiked, or drugged. So beware of your surroundings and if someone does offer you a drink and you would like to accept, be there when it is being poured. Also, never, ever, ever, set your drink down, leave for a few minutes and come back to get your drink again. Unless someone you trust has been watching your drink, you don't know if somebody has done something to it. It's safer to lose out on some money and buy a new drink than risk getting drugged!

4. Let a loved one or someone you trust know where you will be

It doesn't hurt for you to let somebody that you trust and isn't with you know where you will be for the night going into the next day. Whether it be your brother, sister, mom, dad, family friend, etc., it is good to take that extra step of communication for safety reasons.

One of the most important things during Halloween is to have fun!! Of course, all the measures listed above are important to keep in mind, but don't let those things be the only thing on your mind! As long as you are aware of your surroundings and plan for the night ahead of time, you will be set for a safe and thrilling night!

Happy Halloween!