While Halloween is often seen as a time for kids to get candy and for adults to have parties, it is also a time with a few potential hazards.

But it is easy to have fun and be safe this Halloween. By being aware and following a few safety guidelines, your Halloween needn't be that scary!

Halloween: That Creepy, Scary, and Fun Time of Year

There's a great deal of media press and social commentary on the growing phenomenon of the Halloween holiday turning into more of an "adult" celebration than ever before.

According to a survey from Morning Consult last year,

Generation Z is especially enthusiastic about Halloween this year, with 77 percent of respondents in that demographic saying they plan to celebrate. Gen Z was also generally more inclined to attend parties and don costumes than the general population last year — a trend that holds up in 2021.

Among all U.S. adults, roughly 1 in 4 (24 percent) said they plan to attend a Halloween party this year (2021), marking another rebound to levels in 2019, when 16 percent said they went to a party.

And it appears the trend is continuing into 2022. Here are a few statistics to prove that:

• $10.6 billion. Total Halloween spending expected in 2022, a new a record, exceeding last year’s record of $10.1 billion. (NRF)
• $3.66 billion. Amount adult consumers in the United States are expected to spend on costumes in 2022, or just under $35 per person. (Statista)
• 28 percent of adults plan to host or attend a Halloween party in 2022. (NRF)
• 69%. Percentage of consumers planning to celebrate Halloween in 2022, up from 65% in 2021 and comparable to 68% in 2019. (NRF)

Interestingly, however, when Halloween was first introduced into the United States - or, more accurately, the New World colonies - it was primarily an adult-only event. 

This holiday didn't really became a widely popular celebration until the late 1840s, about 200 years later. And this came primarily from the influence of the almost 500,000 Irish immigrants that brought their Halloween, or Samhain, traditions with them.

And it was here that it morphed into the candy bounty that is American Halloween.

By the early 1900s, Halloween was firmly established as an American holiday of sorts, and one that still catered primarily to adults. And it wasn't until the 1950s that Halloween became viewed as a primarily children's holiday and the popularity of trick-or-treating skyrocketed.

So, the idea that Halloween is a kid's event being co-opted by adults is an aberration doesn't really hold up to history.

Staying Safe While Having Fun this Halloween

There are many common sense "best practices" for a safe Halloween such as never going out alone, staying out of streets, and dressing for the weather - October nights can be quite chilly in many parts of the country!

Along with these well-known tips, according to Honest.com, the top five tips for a safe Halloween are:

• Keep toxins out of costumes. It all starts when we get our little ones dressed.
• Plan your night ahead.
• Wear bright colors and/or add reflective tape to costumes.
• Accompany small children all the way to the doors.
• Always check candy before eating it.

And the folks at SmartLiving.com offer these 8 Ways To Stay Safe On Halloween:

1. Don’t keep candles burning in Jack-o’-lanterns or luminaries. Consider using battery-operated flames.
2. You might also opt for a safer pumpkin “carving” by painting them or decorating with stickers.
3. Look for flame-resistant costumes, wigs, and accessories and make sure your dress or outfit is the proper length and fit, so you don’t trip or catch fire.
4. If applying face paint, be careful around the eyes and test for any skin allergies before using it.
5. Avoid using contact lenses that alter the look or color of your eyes as they can be hazardous to your eye health.
6. Use a flashlight, LED light, or apply reflective tape to your costume to see and be seen by others, including cars.
7. If you wear a mask, test for full visibility out of the eye holes and proper breathability.
8. If your costume requires a sword or weapon, do not swing it around and keep the pointed part away from yourself and others.

And for adults who are trick-or-treating with their kiddos:

• Arm your home alarm system and lock the doors, so your home is safe while you’re out.
• Use your app, if available, to check your security camera for any suspicious activity while you're out.
• Stay in neighborhoods that you're familiar with and avoid going out alone.
• Start early and don’t stay out too late.
• Walk - never run - between houses.

And, finally, for those grown up "kids" attending office Halloween parties or Halloween party get-togethers with friends, always designate a non-drinking driver and have a "buddy system" to help keep you and your partner safe and smart during - and after - the festivities.

Stay Safe During Halloween with Trash and Junk Removal, Too!

Whether you are cleaning up your home after your monster Halloween bash, or preparing for the upcoming holidays, Junk King can the resource you need to get rid of household trash and unwanted junk.

And our professional and friendly crew will do all the heavy lifting and hauling for you.

Or if you prefer and depending on where you live, you can even load your own trash, debris, or junk yourself by renting one of our handy MINI Dumpsters.

Either way, we have the best holiday trash and rubbish removal solutions for you.

After you make an appointment with us, our expert and insured trash and junk removal team will call 15 to 30 minutes before we show up at your home. And once we arrive - on time, as promised - we’ll give you a free estimate based on how much room your items take up in our truck.

Then you just point and we’ll haul your items into our junk removal trucks, all with no hidden fees.

So, ready to get rid of your holiday junk? It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3.

Just make an appointment by booking online above or by calling 1.888.888.JUNK (5865).