When there is a holiday, safety is an issue, and Halloween is no different.

There are some basic safety guidelines supplied by the Gresham Police Department that apply to every day, so for Halloween they’re twice as important.

Be constantly aware of your surroundings, and if someone worries you, guide yourself by that feeling and avoid them. It is said that criminals target people who look vulnerable, so walk with your head up – like you’re going somewhere even if you’re not. They would rather take on someone who looks lost and disoriented. When walking, travel where there are people and light; avoid deserted, dark places. Have a key in hand when getting into a car and know how much gas is in the tank. If you don’t have a cell phone, carry a disconnected one – it will work for 9-1-1.

Students have heard it over and over, yet the importance of not drinking and driving must be stressed anyway. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, last year in Oregon, 44 percent of traffic fatalities were alcohol related. That same year, over 16,000 people were killed nationally due to the same type of accidents.

Bottom line: Find a designated driver and make sure they stick with the plan, or be the designated driver yourself. You may never know that you saved someone’s life.

Also be careful how much alcohol you’re consuming. College drinking plays a role in 1,700 deaths each year, but it can have even more widespread consequences in other areas. Six hundred thousand injuries, almost 700,000 assaults, and over 90,000 sexual assaults are due to college drinking each year. (Hingson et al, 2005)

Irresponsibility can affect numerous areas of a student’s life, not to mention the effect it has on their family and friends. A “little too much to drink” could have unimaginable consequences.

Besides not drinking and driving, and limiting the amount of alcohol consumed, there are a few other precautions students can take to make their evening a “little” safer. Brad Moyle, a patrol officer for West Linn Police Department, suggests partygoers adopt the buddy system and go in groups so they can watch out for each other.

He also encourages having the phone number of someone you can call if there is no designated driver. Further, be aware of who you’re hanging out with. If you know them, you’re most likely, though not always, safer than if you were with people you had never met before.

Obviously, there will be children everywhere on Halloween. Students can count on seeing a lot of kids on the streets, especially in neighborhoods. Even when sober, accidents can still happen if people are not careful.

The National Safety Council encourages motorists to watch out for children darting in between parked cars, on roads, medians and curbs.

Exit driveways and alleys with extra caution, and as evening sets in, be aware of children with dark costumes. These precautions could save a child’s life.

Halloween can be a fun-filled evening, and by following some guidelines, we can make sure it’s that way for everyone.

For more information on safe trick-or-treating tips or just safety in general, visit www.halloween-safety.com or www.nsc.org. For more information on drunk driving, visit www.madd.org.