Operation Great Pumpkin: Trick-or-treating safety Published Oct. 28, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Zachary Cacicia 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Halloween is a night for costumes, trick-or-treating, candy and fun. One would think that the ghosts and goblins would try to spoil this fun, but it is actually the dangers associated with falls and pedestrian/vehicle accidents. Operation Great Pumpkin, overseen by the 436th Security Forces Squadron, will take place on Trick-or-treat night from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Oct. 31, 2014, in the Eagle Heights Housing area on Dover Air Force Base, Del. "Halloween is a tradition that both children and the young at heart look forward to every year," said Staff Sgt. Ashley Smith, 436th Airlift Wing Safety Office ground safety craftsman. "The night of monsters and Mars Bars has the potential to be lively, but basic safety rules should always be considered." According to Staff Sgt. Matthew Campanelli, 436th SFS standards and evaluation, Operation Great Pumpkin will comprise of Security Forces members and volunteers conducting foot patrols throughout base housing during trick-or-treating hours. There will also be an appearance by Scruff and McGruff the Crime Dog. "This is to ensure that base housing remains secure and that no mischief or vandalism takes place that normally happens on Halloween," said Campanelli. As a reminder, the base housing trick-or-trick is not open to non-Department of Defense identification card holders. For those who are partaking in the fun, Security Forces and the Safety Office have a few safety tips and reminders. - Ensure that costumes are made of fire resident materials. They should also be large enough to allow clothes to be worn underneath to protect children from the cold. - Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard. - Face masks can obstruct a child's vision. Use makeup instead. When buying special Halloween makeup, check for packages containing ingredients that are labeled, "Made with U.S. Approved Color Additives," "Laboratory Tested," "Meets Federal Standards for Cosmetics" or "Non-Toxic." - If a mask is worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes. - Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects. - Wear bright colors and reflective tapes to alert motorists. - Adults and children should carry flashlights. - Parents should supervise their children or encourage them to use the buddy system. Parents should know where their children are and who they are with. - Stay in your own neighborhood or familiar areas. - Provide a well-lit area for children to walk. - Walk on the sidewalks when possible. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic and cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. - Stay away from dark houses. - Give candy that has been commercially wrapped. Fruit, homemade candy or unwrapped candy should not be given out. - Instruct children to not eat any candy until it has been inspected by an adult to ensure that it has not been unwrapped or tampered with. - Motorists travelling on Halloween night need to be more alert for children. Turn on your lights and slow down in residential areas, at least five mph below the posted speed limit. - Put away and lockup outside items (bicycles, lawnmowers, patio furniture, etc.). - Lock your home's windows and doors; also ensure that it is well-lit. The 436th Aerial Port Squadron's Passenger Terminal will also be providing a service to help put parent's minds at ease. "If parents wish to have their kid's candy X-rayed prior to them eating it, they can take to the Passenger Terminal, where it can be scanned for objects," said Campanelli. The X-ray machine will be available for this use from 9:00 p.m. to midnight on Oct. 31, 2014 and from 8:00 a.m. to noon on Nov. 1, 2014, at the Passenger Terminal (Building 150). If you have any questions or would like to volunteer for Operation Great Pumpkin, contact Campanelli at (302) 677-6043.