Halloween can be an exciting time of year for college students; however, with this comes some risks. The WellBeing Department collaborated with the NMU Police Department on Oct. 28 to educate students on how to stay safe during this time of year through their Toolkit Tuesday tabling event.

Not only did this Toolkit Tuesday educate students on safe drinking habits, but it also covered laws surrounding drinking.

“We want to educate students on local laws and on general safety,” senior Christina Kramer said. “Halloween weekend is a big weekend, and we just want students to be safe if they are drinking or if they are going out.”

NMU Police Officer Matt Strong has experienced firsthand the dangers students can face on Halloween weekend.

“I spent years working EMS, and I’ve responded to a lot of bad car accidents and overdoses with alcohol among young people,” Strong said. “[I would recommend] if [students] are going to drink this weekend, know your limits and be aware of your actions and the people around you.”

Strong emphasized that students should always remember that when in doubt, they can always call the police department for help.

“A lot of crimes go unreported, and it’s going to be your choice to call and file a report,” Strong said. “I would encourage that.”

During Toolkit Tuesday, Kramer and Strong passed out a variety of resources to aid students, including pamphlets explaining what to do when you hit a deer, how to drink responsibly and how to have a plan before you go out.

Overall, the goal of this week’s Toolkit Tuesday was to inform students how to have fun this weekend while prioritizing safety.

“I want everyone to have a fun weekend, just be safe. [Be aware] of what’s going on,” Strong said.

If students have any concerns during Halloween weekend they may call 911 or NMU PD’s non-emergency number, (906) 227-2151.