Trick-or-treat and safety

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alexis Bunkley
  • 48th Security Forces Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  This year's trick-or-treat activities will be held Saturday Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., and the 48th Security Forces Squadron is once again organizing "Operation Pumpkin Patrol" in military housing areas.

In addition to the Pumpkin Patrol, Security Forces will open the Radcliffe Road Youth Center gate for ID card holders only to allow access to Liberty Village and the Anglo housing area.

Dressing up in costumes and going trick-or-treating can be fun, but those activities can be dangerous to children if they are not supervised properly by adults. Here are some steps to follow to ensure a safe Halloween.

- Costumes should be flame-retardant and allow children to see, hear and walk freely without tripping.

- Make certain that any face paint or makeup used on skin or costumes is non-toxic.

- Trick-or-treaters aged 10 and younger should be under adult supervision - even if they are traveling in a group with friends. Children should also carry a flashlight or glow stick at all times.

- Ensure children do not criss-cross back and forth across streets or into traffic.

- Ensure children are aware they should never go into a stranger's house no matter what anyone says.

- Ensure children stick to well-lit streets and walkways; avoid shortcuts through wooded areas, parking lots and alleys.

- Children should not eat any treats until an adult has examined them, and should never eat open or unwrapped Halloween foods.

- The 727th Air Mobility Squadron on RAF Mildenhall will be X-raying candy until 10 p.m. at the passenger terminal, building 598

- Provide enough lighting for children traveling through walkways, driveways, and doorways.

- As always, if you are leaving your home for the evening, lock your doors and windows and leave the radio or TV on. Burglars come out during events when they know people won't be home.

With all the precautions mentioned, you and your children can experience a wonderful Halloween! Happy trick-or-treating!

We are soliciting for volunteers. Anyone wishing to volunteer to patrol their housing area can contact Senior Airman Alexis Bunkley / Security Forces Operations at 226-3824 or email alexis.bunkley@lakenheath.af.mil.