Scary Statistics: Base safety office provides tips for Halloween Published Oct. 15, 2013 By Tech. Sgt. Clinton Hammons 319th Air Base Wing Safety Office GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- BOO! Scared you didn't I? No? Well... if that didn't scare you maybe these statistics will: Halloween is usually in the top three for the holiday with the most injuries and deaths, along with New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July. According to the American Automobile Association and State Farm Insurance companies, Halloween is the deadliest night of the year for pedestrians. From 1990 to 2010, child pedestrian fatalities on October 31 average 5.5 each year. That is more than double the average 2.6 fatalities for other days. If you're like most people, when you think of Halloween; you think of candy, costumes, pumpkins and parties. As well you should, because Halloween is a holiday and it is meant to be enjoyed. However, like most things in life with the good comes the bad. When I say bad, I don't mean scary zombie outfits, worm textured treats, or haunted houses that make you need to change your undies, I mean an increase in injuries and deaths. While some of us think it's fun to dress up and pretend like an injured person; throw on some fake (cherry flavored) blood oozing from our poorly constructed latex or rubber lacerations and maybe some slimy guts hanging from our bellies... none of us actually want to be a real injured person. So here are a few tips to keep your "innards" from becoming your "outards" while dealing with traffic and pedestrians this Halloween: Decorate costumes with reflective tape or stickers. Use costumes that are light or bright to make children more visible. Remember to cross the street only at intersections and crosswalks. Teach children to walk, not run while trick-or-treating. Remind children to stop at all street corners before crossing. Children should carry flashlights to see and be seen. Look left, right, and left again before crossing and while crossing. Obey all traffic signs and signals. Enter and exit driveways very carefully. Teach children to enter and exit cars on the curbside, away from traffic. Watch for children walking in the street or on curbs. (Statistics show that 70 percent of the pedestrian accidents during Halloween happen in the middle of the block, not at intersections) Tie hats and scarves securely to prevent them from slipping over children's eyes and obstructing vision. Traffic safety is a huge issue during the Halloween season, but it's not the only thing you need to be cautious of. While most of the monsters and villains you see during the season are just pretending, some people out there are actually dangerous. Not just people, but situations can be dangerous. While you can't predict or prevent everything, here are some good tips to help keep you safe from things other than traffic: Wear hypoallergenic makeup. Avoid costumes that drag on the ground to prevent tripping or falling. Do not ride a bike/scooter/skateboard or roller blade while wearing a large or baggy costume. Inspect all trick-or-treat items for signs of tampering before allowing children to eat them. Carefully inspect any toys or novelty items received by kids age 3 and younger. These may pose a choking hazard. Avoid giving young kids lollipops, as the sticks can cause eye injuries. Always accompany young children. If an older child is venturing out without supervision, ask that he or she go with a group, discuss the route and agree on a curfew. Give older kids cell phones so they can stay in touch. Parents should establish a route for children in a known neighborhood. Children should only go to well-lit houses and remain on porches rather than entering houses. Children should know their phone number and carry coins for emergency telephone calls. Children should have their names and addresses attached to their costumes. Children should bring treats home before eating them so parents can inspect them. Just because there are several hazards that come along with Halloween and trick or treating, doesn't mean it can't be fun. With a little risk management, additional time, thought, and situational awareness your holiday can be a safe day. So throw on your costume, put on your makeup, and get out there have some fun and get some of the good candy before all the other ghouls and boys do.