Brightly-colored costumes help keep Halloween trick-or-treating safe

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VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Ghosts, goblins and a variety of super heroes will fill the streets of Vance family housing Halloween night. Keeping the treat-fueled celebration safe is everyone's job.

Trick-or-treating hours in housing will run from 6 until 8 p.m., under the watchful eyes of the Vance Pumpkin Patrol, members of the 71st Security Forces Squadron and even Craig Wetherington, Ground Safety manager with the 71st Flying Training Wing Safety Office.

"We will be cruising around the Housing area, making sure the kids are safe and passing out glow sticks to keep them visible," Wetherington said.

He recommends brightly-colored costumes with as much reflective material as possible.

"Light colors are good, dark colors are not," said Wetherington.

The Safety Office will also pass out glow sticks at the annual Fall Fest celebration scheduled from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Oct. 30, at the Armed Forces Reserve Center on base.

Wetherington urges parents to park their cars and walk the housing area streets with their young children. "The streets are too narrow for a number of cars and a herd of costumed children to safely share," he said.

The Pumpkin Patrol, headed up by Staff Sgt. Jeff Hollis with the 71st SFS, will be walking the housing area from 6 to 8 p.m.

"The Pumpkin Patrol is a group of volunteers who will be in base housing Halloween evening to help make trick-or-treating fun and safe for the kids at Vance," said Hollis.

The patrol volunteers will be in uniform, with reflective vests and will be working with off-duty security forces members. If parents or trick-or-treaters run into any problems Halloween evening, they should contact the Pumpkin Patrol or any 71st SFS unit.

Hollis can still use volunteers for the patrol. Interested folks should contact him at jeffrey.hollis@us.af.mil. 

The Safety Office recommends limiting Halloween goodies to individually wrapped treats. "If you are suspicious of anything in your child's candy bag, toss it out," said Wetherington.

The noise and activity surrounding Halloween activities can frighten otherwise friendly dogs, said Wetherington. "Keep your dog away from the front door when passing out candy," he said.

Housing occupants who want to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters should turn their porch lights on. Occupants who do not wish to participate should not turn their porch light on between 6 and 8 p.m., Oct. 31.

The 71st Flying Training Wing headquarters building will host Team Vance trick-or-treaters from 3 to 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 29. Offices throughout Building 500 will have goodies ready for costumed children.

Flying squadrons in the 71st Operations Group will be passing out candy from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Oct. 31. All Team Vance trick-or-treaters are invited.