Common sense called key
to a safe Halloween for kids
By Rick Chernitzer,
Stars and Stripes
Jennifer H. Svan / Stars and Stripes
Witches (l-r) Alex Horne, Stephanie Cowardin, Star Carter, Jessica Fry, and Toni Flowers,
as well as Count Dracula Caleb Grant, are haunting the "Almost Spooky Haunted
House" at Yokota Air Base's Yujo Center through Halloween. |
Although trick-or-treat hours and rules have changed on many bases this Halloween,
officials are still urging parents to use common sense to keep their little ghosts and
goblins safe.
"The big thing is always have parents going with the kids, that they’re not
alone," said Sam McGee, safety manager at Atsugi Naval Air Facility, Japan. "And
parents need to look at the candy before the kids eat it. These are probably the two most
important things I can recommend."
McGee said costumes should have bright colors to be seen easily at night. Also, kids
should carry flashlights.
"Some of the costumes that can be purchased are not really fireproof … they
should be checked out by the parents," he said.
A few other tips, according to a Halloween safety slideshow McGee produced for the
base’s information channel, include:
- Walk, don’t run, while trick-or-treating.
- Stay on sidewalks and cross only at crosswalks.
- Stay in familiar neighborhoods.
- Watch for vehicles backing out of driveways.
- Lastly, if you’re planning on giving away goodies, McGee suggests use only
pre-wrapped candies, and not baked goods or fruits.
Greg Tyler / Stars and Stripes
This rather wicked-looking clown is one of the characters looking forward to jumping into
the fray soon at Sasebo Naval Base's Halls of Fear haunted house, sponsored by the base's
MWR department. The cast of the scary house of horrors, on the main base and not
recommended for children under 10, held a walk-through on Thursday. |
"That way (parents) can tell whether it’s been tampered with or not," he
said.
At some bases in the Pacific, trick-or-treat hours and regulations will be different
than year’s past.
For example, at Yokota Air Base, Japan, visitors will only be allowed on base for trick
or treating if escorted.
To find out the hours for a particular installation, or for other information, call one
of these numbers:
Mainland Japan
Atsugi Naval Air Facility: 264-4455
Camp Zama: 263-5578
Yokosuka Naval Base: 241-3003
Yokota Air Base: 225-7338
Misawa Air Base: 226-4358
Sasebo Naval Base: 252-3930
Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station: 253-5551
South Korea
Taegu (Camp Henry, Camp Walker, Camp George): 768-6200
Pusan (Camp Hialeah) day: 763-7709; evening: 763-3888
Yongsan Garrison, Halloween Fall Festival: 738-4557/8130
Okinawa
Camp Foster (Marine base housing): 645-0790
Kadena Air Base: 634-4142
Guam
Andersen Air Force Base: 366-4202
Naval Forces Marianas: 339-5207
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