inkskinned:

from someone who runs a haunted house; there’s a lot of stuff i’ve seen + nobody really seems 2 want to talk about? so like nobody cares + this will be boring but like pls. just read it . pls. im not going to try and talk you out of any behaviors, just tell you how to maybe cut the possibility that these behaviors will cause harm.

• don’t crack glowsticks + use the glow as skin paint why do ppl do that it’s toxic please stop doing that
• im team “dress as u wish” but i also suggest sewing a pocket into your costume. include ur id + 20 bucks in cash + maybe your phone. make it have a zipper/velcro/button close. tbh i sew mine into my bra. this makes it a lot harder to lose important things if you have to run from the cops zombies
• a good rule of thumb (always tbh) is to follow fairy rules on this night. don’t eat or drink anything offered to you unless you know the person is safe.
• yes i mean eating things, trust me, don’t do it
• if this is ur first time trying weed, don’t wait until you’re drunk. also give yourself at least 2 hours before you say “it’s not working”. take it slow.
• please don’t do serious drugs, but if you’re gonna, write down what you took. if it goes by a street name, ask what it’s close to. write that down on your arm/somewhere safe. in case of accidental overdose, it will help emts
• on that note, emts are there to help you, don’t lie to them, they’re not cops, just tell them what you/the person took + how much
• know the signs and symptoms of an overdose. if your friend is exhibiting signs of an overdose, don’t sweat the possibility you might be wrong. better safe than sorry.
• same goes for liquor. even if you’re underage, call somebody if you need to. know the signs of poisoning can differ from person to person; look for things like inability to speak, falling down, falling asleep while talking, or blue lips. excessive shivering is bad too.
• please for the love of god make sure you and your friends check your normal medications before you mix drugs together. weed/liquor and antidepressants are known not to mix; don’t you dare do antibiotics and liquor or i’ll be Very Disappointed. if you don’t know if your daily medication has a bad interaction with something, don’t take it. and yeah, btw? some things are known to cancel the effects of birth control. so really, be careful
• lots of teenagers will try drinking. i cannot legally tell you that’s a good idea. but i can maybe offer some tips from someone who has made Many Mistakes to help u Drink Responsibly
• keep a tally of what u drank. disguise it so it’s not tally marks. i usually use something festive. it helps me remember to slow down bc i make it so i have to have at least one glass of water per 2 marks. if you don’t want a hangover, do 1 to 1. 
• also if you don’t want a hangover start drinking water now. dehydration is cumulative, so if you only drink water on the day of, your body won’t really feel it. aim for at least half a gallon a day this week. drink ¾ a gallon on the day of. i usually top that off when i come home with another ¼. it works wonders. 
• generally, the more sugar in the drink, the worse your stomach will feel
• do not drink on an empty stomach. do not. do … not. put a fry in there, i don’t know. eat something.
• do not drive drunk. just don’t. there are apps u can use to call cars now.  back in my day we just had to shame-dial our parents and beg them to forgive us the next day
• also just. don’t feel like you have to do or take anything from anyone. whenever i feel pressured to drink but don’t want to (and yes!! i’m an adult and i can feel that way!!) i tend to take something i don’t like (i won’t be tempted by the taste) and like… just hold it. for the whole night. nobody notices. thanks, social anxiety, for making this a problem.
• my general rule of thumb is that if you can’t run in your shoes, you shouldn’t wear them. 
• if you notice someone ruining props or being a jerk, please stop them if it’s safe to do so. just say “hey dude, not cool.” it works?? so well???
• don’t scare little kids you don’t know. idk why teens love doing this. u have no idea what that little kid has as personal needs. 
• if you feel unsafe, leave. it’s hard to do, but you need to. don’t go into the abandoned building, don’t go into the stranger’s house. just don’t. listen to your gut. there’s a difference between “spooked” and “this is genuinely a bad idea”.
• graveyards are cool but please don’t break the tombstones that’s just rude
• keep black pets inside.
• have an emergency name + number somewhere secret. 
• don’t walk on a dark road w/out lights why do teenagers always do this yeah it feels cool and spooky but u gon be roadkill
• masks really upset one of my friends but he feels uncomfortable admitting it and what we learned is that if you say “can you take a picture with me? you look so cool! where’d you get that costume?” most people will be very friendly + you’ll get to hear their voice, which helps. also u can just ask ppl to take their mask off, but fyi some will be v annoying about this
• taking a picture of something proves if that something is real.
• stand up for your friends. talk 2 them beforehand about problems they might have and u might have. i can’t ask ppl for things for my own anxiety, but if i know “okay, he needs me to ask the person w/a knife to leave” i am?? suddenly superpowered? 
• have a buddy or 3 and make sure you all go home together.
• the best advice i’ve ever gotten for enjoying a party was “always leave a party while everyone is still having fun.” 
• good luck out there be safe happy haunting