JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Halloween is a fun fall celebration with plenty of tricks
and treats. Through planning ahead and teaching your children how to make smart
decisions, Halloween can be fun and safe for everyone. Here are some tips you
can use to cut back on the tricks and make the night full of treats.
Preventative measures can be taken weeks or even months prior
to Halloween night.
Before the big night, teach your children how to call 9-1-1
in case of an emergency. Additionally, while costume shopping it is advised to
read the labels of all costumes and accessories to ensure that your purchases
are flame resistant.
This is also an ideal time to increase your child’s
visibility by purchasing and adding reflective tape to shoes, bags, or
accessories.
Prior to heading out for trick-or-treating, talk to your
children about safety and rules for the night, as well as make a plan in case
you are separated.
The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute
states that the number of pedestrian fatalities involving children increases
4.5 times on Halloween. This increase occurs during the hours of darkness and
primarily impacts children under fifteen years old.
Emphasize the importance of remaining visible to motorists
at all times. Also, make sure all escorts and children have working flash
lights.
A few other things to talk to your children about are the
dangers of using yards and alleys as shortcuts, entering a stranger’s home and
eating candy that has not been inspected.
Staying in well-lit areas can deter potential offenders from
engaging your child. Your children should be aware of the tactics that strangers
use to lure children such as wearing a costume that is popular among children,
distracting the child with candy and even using a pet as an enticement.
Once the trick-or-treating has finished and everyone is home
safely, talk about the events of the night to make sure that nothing unusual
occurred without you noticing. This is also a good time to inspect the candy
and throw away any that is opened, spoiled or tampered with.
For additional Halloween health and safety tips, visit http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween.
Joint Base San Antonio Halloween Trick-Or-Treating Hours
Trick-or-treating hours at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph
and JBSA-Lackland are
5-8 p.m. Thursday and 5-8 p.m. Oct. 31 at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. The 902nd
Security Forces Squadron’s Pumpkin Patrol will use mobile and foot patrols from
5-8 p.m. Thursday to focus on the safety of trick-or-treaters who visit
JBSA-Randolph housing areas. Keep an eye on your trick-or-treaters and have a
safe night. To volunteer for the JBSA-Randolph Pumpkin Patrol, call 652-1645
before Tuesday.