Consider safety for a spooktacular Halloween

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jack Tucker
  • 55th Wing Safety Office
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  For many children, Halloween is one of the most eventful and memorable times of the year. What could be more satisfying to a youngster than dressing up like his or her favorite super hero, goblin or other scary monster and going door to door collecting candy?

Although this is usually a fun night for the entire family, we must all pitch in and work together to ensure that the safety of children is at the forefront of all we do. To assist in making this Halloween a fun and safe one, here are some tips from the National Safety Council:

Motorists: Watch for children darting out from between parked cars, walking on roadsides and wearing dark clothing. Enter and exit driveways with extreme caution

Parents: Make sure an adult or responsible youth is supervising children under 12 years of age. Plan and discuss the intended trick-or-treat route and know the names of your children's companions and instruct children to only travel in well lit, familiar areas along the established route. Make sure children understand never to enter a stranger's home. Set a concrete return time and review all trick-or-treat safety precautions to include pedestrian and traffic safety.

Costume design: Use only flame-retardant materials for costumes. They should be loose so warm clothes can be worn underneath but not so long that they present a tripping hazard (Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween). If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light-colored materials and strips of retro-reflective tape should be used to make children visible.

Mask or makeup: Masks can obstruct a child's vision; use facial make-up instead. When buying special Halloween makeup, check for packages containing ingredients that are labeled "Made with U.S. Approved Color Additives," "Laboratory Tested," " Meets Federal Standards for Cosmetics" or "Non-Toxic" and be sure to follow manufacture instructions for application. If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes

Accessories: Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials (Don't allow children to carry sharp objects). Bags or sacks carried by youngsters should be light-colored or trimmed with reflective tape. Carrying flashlights will help children see better and allow them to be seen more clearly by others.

On the way: Children should understand they should never enter homes or apartments without adult supervision. Walk; don't run from house to house and don't cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or uneven terrain can present tripping hazards. Walk on sidewalks, not in the street and on the left side of the road facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.

Treats: To ensure a safe trick-or-treat outing, parents are urged to give children an early meal before going out and insist treats brought home are inspected before anything is eaten. Wash fruit and slice it into small pieces, and if in doubt, throw it out.

(Editor's Note: This year's trick or treat hours in military family housing are from 6 - 8p.m. Oct. 31. The 55th Security Forces Squadron's "Ghost Patrol" will be making their rounds and haunting the streets during this time to ensure the safety of those participating in Halloween. To volunteer to assist the "Ghost Patrol", email the Tech. Sgt. Noland Noble at Noland.Noble@offutt.af.mil.)