Students, such as nursing junior Clarissa Galaviz, said being careful and staying with family and friends is a safety tip for anyone celebrating Halloween.
โI am always very cautious around me,โ Galaviz said. โI go to a neighborhood โฆ that already has a police there and I feel safe going to those.โ
She celebrates Halloween by going to her uncleโs neighborhood, where the police are present and more people participate during the celebration.
โMy brothers and I, we have a competition, whoever has the most candies wins,โ Galaviz said. โI think there was one time, we combined all of our candy together and we had a whole trash bag filled with candies.โ
James Loya, UTRGV assistant chief of police, advises students to be aware of their surroundings by remaining alert on busy streets during trick-or-treating hours from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
โJust be aware of your surroundings, never get to the point where you lose faculties,โ Loya said. โDuring those time periods, make sure that you be cautious when driving in [the] neighborhood and to make sure to be on the lookout for any small kids that may be in the area.โ
He recommends a designated sober driver for those planning to consume alcoholic beverages.
Loya also mentioned the importance of carefully choosing a costume.
โWith any costumes โฆ make sure it fits perfectly,โ he said. โYou donโt want anything too big to where it may cause a trip hazard. โฆ When you pick a costume, just be sure your visibility is never obstructed.โ
He also said prop weapons should be used properly.
โWhen dealing with prop weapons, I mean, nowadays they make weapons that you get for Halloween, you know, pretty realistic,โ Loya said. โYou have to be real careful with that, making sure that you do not present them in a matter that somebody may find them threatening.โ
Similarly, Wesley Milum, director of Emergency and Trauma Services and a registered nurse at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville, mentioned the importance of parents carefully choosing a costume for their children.
โTry and plan for costumes that are bright,โ Milum said. โโฆ Dark colors are the most popular during Halloween.
โThereโs visibility issues with traffic, you know, seeing children running across the street in smaller neighborhoods and darker, poor-lit areas.โ
Milum suggested some solutions for dark-colored costumes, such as using glow sticks or reflective tape.
He said those who have food allergies or are watching their food intake should moderate what they consume during the celebration.
For students who are celebrating on campus, the University Police is available for emergencies.
โFor us, itโs going to be like any particular day,โ Loya said. โWeโre in full session, you know. With the evening classes as well, so if you find yourselves in a situation where you need assistance, call us.โ
For campus emergencies, call 882-4911.
