Make this Halloween safe for all

  • Published
  • By Eric T. Hoehn
  • 88th Air Base Wing Safety Office

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – This weekend, many of us will enjoy visits from young children in costumes ranging from Cinderella to Iron Man.

Trick-or-treating hours in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base housing areas are set for 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 throughout the Brick Quarters, Prairies and Woods.

Halloween should be a special, positive experience and we must all do our part to ensure the safety of those involved. As we travel through different housing areas during those times, we need to focus our highest awareness and judgment.

It’s critical that individuals accompanying children maintain safe control of them, and it is equally important for the rest of us to support their challenging task.

We adults must respect that costumes not only restrict peripheral vision and hearing, but they are also frequently hard for motorists to see (especially toward evening). Any roadway crossing should be approached with great caution.

The American Red Cross offers the following safety tips:

  • Walk on sidewalks, not in the streets
  • Look both ways before crossing the street
  • Cross the street only at corners
  • Don’t hide or cross the street between parked cars
  • Wear light-colored or reflective-type clothing so you are more visible
  • Plan your route and share it with your family. If possible, have an adult go with you.
  • Carry a flashlight to light your way
  • Keep away from open flames and candles: Costumes can be extremely flammable.
  • Visit homes that have porch light on
  • Accept your treats at the door and never go into a stranger’s house
  • Use face paint rather than a mask that will impair your vision
  • Be cautious of animals and strangers
  • Have a grown-up inspect your treats before you eat them
  • Don’t eat candy if the package is already opened
  • Remember: Small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.

Be sure to check local news sources for trick-or-treating times in other areas around the Miami Valley community.

Let’s all do our part to make this a safe and enjoyable Halloween for everybody.