Enjoy Halloween safely this year Published Oct. 25, 2007 92nd Air Refueling Wing Safety office FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- With Halloween just around the corner, it's a foregone conclusion that the ghouls and things that go bump in the night will be out and about. That means it's time to put safety back on the front burner. Using safety tips and common sense can help people make the most of the Halloween season and also make it as enjoyable for the children as possible. There are certain tips that the Fairchild safety office offers to keep kids safe this holiday season. - Help your child pick out or make a costume that will be safe, preferably fireproof, and the eye holes should be large enough for good peripheral vision. - If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure that they are far enough out of the way so that kids' costumes won't accidentally be set on fire. Jack-o-lanterns with candles should not be placed inside. - Make sure that if your child is carrying a prop, such as a scythe, butcher knife or a pitchfork, that the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury if fallen on. - Children may want to help with the pumpkin carving. Small children shouldn't be allowed to use a sharp knife to cut the top or the face. There are many kits available that come with tiny saws that work better then knives and are safer, although you can be cut by them as well. It's best to let the children clean out the pumpkin and draw a face on it, which you can carve for them. The parents of trick-or-treating children can get so caught up in the fun that they might forget some simple safety ideas that could save everyone some trouble. There are tips for the parents of the little ones to follow as well. - Keep an eye on how much people have to drink and try not to let it get out of hand. Take the keys away from anyone that may be driving. Have one person stay sober and offer to drive those people home who may be too intoxicated. - When deciding on a menu, check and see if anyone attending the party has food allergies. Common food allergies to dairy products, peanuts and shell fish can really put a damper on the festivities. - Planning ahead for problems can make all the difference for your Halloween party. Trick-or-treating is a tradition that can be one of the great adventures of Halloween for children. They can get dressed in costumes and go door to door, begging for "Tricks or Treats" from neighbors or at the local mall. It should be a fun time, without trouble and pain, and following some easy tips can keep children safe every Halloween. - Children should not go out during the hours of darkness unless accompanied by a responsible adult. The base trick-or-treating hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. - Parents should plan a safe route so they know where their children will be at all times and set a time for their return home. It's important to make sure the child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves. - Children should know not to cut through back alleys and fields and know to stay in populated places and not to get off the beaten path. They should also stay in well-lit areas and only stop at familiar houses in their own neighborhood unless accompanied by an adult. - Children should not eat any treats until they are brought home to be examined by their parents. - Children should be instructed to never go into the home of a stranger or get into their car. - Make sure children carry a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars. Some people enjoy staying home and making the scariest house possible to try and get a blood curdling scream out of Halloween travelers. When planning a yard haunt there are some things to keep in mind for safety reasons. Everyone wants their haunt to be as scary as possible, possibly bloody and gory, but when it comes to visitors, it's best the blood doesn't end up being real. Here are some ideas that might help make the evening safer: - While decorating your house, make sure that the walk ways are far enough away from things so that people can't trip over them or hurt themselves. - When using a lot of jack-o-lanterns, try a battery powered light source or light sticks to light them instead of candles. This cuts down on the fire hazards. - When using real candles, make sure there is no chance of anything blowing into the flames, no cloth, crepe paper streamers or anything that could start a fire. So as kids begin the countdown to Halloween, keep in mind these safety tips to try and make Oct. 31 the safest night possible.