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Avoid Halloween horrors
Don't go bump in the night.
Article by : SpunOut.ie
In ancient times, the festival of Samhain (Halloween) was a time for feasting, as Celtic people gorged on food stores gathered from the harvest, and celebrated the Celtic New Year. It was also a time of great superstition and of magic rites performed by druids and witches.
These days, Halloween is often an excuse for serious partying and one too many drinks along the way. If you’re planning to dress up in your spooky finest and party till dawn this Halloween, be prepared…. be very prepared….
13 tips to avoid Halloween horrors:
- Trick or treating – This is a pretty obvious one, but if you decide to relive your childhood and trick or treat, don’t do it alone. Club together with at least one friend and take on the neighbourhood together.
- Safe sex – Before you get your freak on with that hot guy or gal, think protection. Better yet, bring condoms with you if you are heading to a party. You never know what might happen if you mix drinks, chemistry and a party together. Condoms will help to protect you against STI’s and pregnancy.
- Getting home safely - By the time Halloween hits, the nights have drawn in and it gets dark pretty early. Before you even leave your house, it will likely be dark. So, make sure you plan in advance how you are going to get home. Perhaps book a taxi, slip some spare cash into that hot costume, or arrange for a sober friend or parent to pick you up. No matter how tipsy you feel, avoid walking home on your own.
- Be careful with drink and drugs – All drugs have side effects. They can affect your physical and mental health, but may also affect your inhibitions. You are more likely to have unprotected sex or take risks when you are under the influence. So, look after yourself and make sure there is someone sober and clearheaded around to look after you if you have a bad trip. As for alcohol, try to eat something before going on the tear, drink water in between drinks and never leave your drink unattended and vulnerable to spiking. Also, keep an eye on friends. If any of them are really pissed, make sure they get home safely and don't let them do anything too crazy!
- Allergic reactions to masks – Many people may actually be allergic to the materials used in Halloween masks. You may be allergic to latex or have general chemical sensitivities. Maybe you don’t ever normally have reactions, but find that a mask makes you feel itchy and horrible. There is an easy answer to this one though: makeup can be worn instead.
- Be careful with Halloween food – If you have any allergies or reactions to food such as dairy, gluten, MSG or nuts, always read the label and be picky about your snacks.
- Avoid open fires or flames if you are wearing a cape or other flammable costumes. These clothes are usually very flammable and you could end up seriously harming yourself.
- Avoid costumes or masks that obscure your vision – You could easily get knocked over by a car or bump into something in the dark if you cannot see properly.
- Horror movies – Watching horror movies with friends is a classic tradition, but don’t scare yourself so much that you can’t sleep at night. For your own sake, watch the horror movies with a few friends and make sure that there are a few people sleeping in your house the night of the viewing.
- Keep your house safe with windows closed so as to avoid Halloween pranks such as egg throwing or other ‘fun’ tricks played by people with too much time on their hands.
- Keep your animals indoors – Pets hate Halloween. The noise of bangers, rockets and sparklers tends to upset them.
- Fireworks can cause real life blood and gore - It is actually illegal to purchases fireworks without a license in Ireland. If you manage to get your hands on some, they may be of poor quality and dangerous to use as a result. As fun as fireworks are, burns and scarring are not. So stick to public bonfires and other fun displays. Don’t risk your health or your life for pretty flames.
- Be careful with candles – Ensure that you have yours lit in a safe place and that they are not likely to fall over and burn down your house!
If you are worried about alcohol and your health, check out the help section for supportive information and links to support organisations.
