Trudging down the streets late at night, you see ghouls, ghosts and everything in between. Your blood is overflowing with sugar from an endless supply of candy. Mindlessly, you continue to overindulge and creep closer to a sugar crash. Muffled sirens in the distance get louder until the red and blue ambulance lights shine in your face from the next street over. Immediately, you snap out of it and realize that all night, you have not been prioritizing the safety of friends or yourself. The smile you wore fades, replaced by a look of concern as you go through the rest of your night second guessing every step.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found that from 2019 to 2022, there was an annual average of 3,200 Halloween-related injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments. The CPSC specified that 46% of those injured were under 18.
According to a 2024 article from the American Red Cross, “the risk of pedestrian fatalities is 43% higher on Halloween compared to any other night.” The article cited studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who said alcohol use played a role in determining their statistics.
Allison Glaser, senior, was involved in a vision project for her AP Language and Composition class, aimed at raising awareness about drunk driving. Part of the project included placing a totaled car outside the athletic building during the SnowCo dance, to show consequences of driving under the influence.
“Our goal was to make sure kids know that [drunk driving] can really impact you,” Glaser said. “Having [the car] at the dance when kids will be going to after parties reminds them to make smart choices.”
Gregory Burke, KHS resource officer, said he recognizes that many parties take place on Halloween night. He said students should be vigilant and know when to remove themselves from potential danger.
“If you’re at a party, you can tell [when] things are getting out of hand,” Burke said. “I would separate yourself and your friends from that situation. Keep an eye out for your friends, and hopefully they are doing the same for you.”
Amy Potter, physics teacher and parent of high schoolers, said it’s important for parents to have difficult conversations with their children about how to protect themselves while they are out. She said this is especially true when alcohol and drugs are involved.
“I think it’s just talking about making good decisions all the time and not just around Halloween,” Potter said. “Talking about it not just as [a warning], but helping them make good choices along the way.”
