MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Halloween trick-or-treating on MacDill AFB is scheduled for Oct. 31, from 6-8 p.m. in the Harbor Bay Housing areas.
Airmen from the 6th Security Forces Squadron and volunteers from other base units will conduct a “Pumpkin Patrol” to provide a safe and secure environment for children trick-or-treating through expanded foot patrols.
To ensure children are safe, make sure they can be seen while trick-or-treating.
According to the SafeKids Worldwide website, “On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year.”
Children’s costumes can be made safe by adding reflective wristbands, tape, glow sticks and flashlights. Also, costumes shouldn’t have masks, hats or other designs that restrict their vision or hinder them from walking and seeing what’s ahead or to their side view.
Halloween safety tips:
Costumes for a Safe Halloween
- Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
- Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
- Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
- When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
Walk Safely
- Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
- Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
- Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
- Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
- Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
- Join kids under age 12 for trick-or-treating. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, tell them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
Drive Extra Safe on Halloween
- Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
- Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
- Get rid of any distractions - like your phone - in your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
- Turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
Additionally, if parents are letting someone else take their children out on Halloween, make sure it is a responsible adult. Talk to your trick or treaters about general personal safety: don’t go inside houses, backyards, sheds or cars. Finally, don’t allow children to approach other people’s dogs or cats.
To report suspicious activity, contact the Security Forces Base Defense Operations Center at (813) 828-3322
.
For additional safety tips on Halloween, please visit: https://www.safekids.org/halloween