Halloween Safety; a priority for all family members

  • Published
  • By Safety office
  • 39 Air Base Wing Safety
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  When most parents think of Halloween safety they typically remind their children not to eat unwrapped candy. However, Halloween safety must go beyond candy inspections to keep your little ones safe.

Most Halloween-related injuries are actually due to children falling or being involved in vehicle accidents.

Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind during Halloween trick-or-treating Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.:

· Wear brightly colored costumes with reflective stripes sewn in.
· Carry flashlights so children can see and vehicle operators can see them.
· Make sure costumes fit well; children in ill-fitting costumes are more likely to trip and fall.
· Always cross at street corners or crosswalks.
· Keep your children in a group and hold hands while crossing the street.
· Use flame-resistant material for costumes.
· Be sure costume props are flexible and not sharp.

It may be Halloween, but children still need to follow the basic every day rules such as looking both ways before crossing the street and traveling with an adult.

Make sure to review the rules with your children. Each group should be supervised and each chaperone should keep a list of what each trick-or-treater is wearing.

Halloween safety doesn't only apply to children but to pets as well. Here are a few safety tips to help ensure Incirlik pets have a safe Halloween: 

- Pets should be kept in a separate room during trick-or-treating hours.
- Make sure your pets don't eat the Halloween candy.
- Don't keep lit pumpkins or candles in your pets' reach.
- Don't dress up your pets if they don't like it.
- If you bring pets trick-or-treating make sure they have a microchip, a leash and
  a collar,  light or some type of protective gear. 
- Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of pets.

By putting safety first you can prevent unnecessary injuries. Although Halloween is a fun time of year for children and pets, it isn't fun when someone gets hurt. Take some time to make sure Incirlik members have a safe, healthy and fun Halloween.