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Nellis offers safety treats for Halloween

  • Published
  • By 99th Security Forces Squadron
Editor's note: Trick or treating hours for Nellis Air Force Base housing will be 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 31. As an additional service, the Radiology Department of the Mike O'Callahan Federal Hospital will X-ray candy for its beneficiaries from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 1. Members are asked to put all candy into a single bag and items will be X-rayed to determine whether or not the presence of glass or metallic items are present.

X-ray machines are not capable of picking up chemicals and spotting other dangerous items such as toothpicks and plastics is limited. As such, parents should also physically examine wrappers and discard any items that look out of the ordinary.


Halloween is a time for ghouls, transformers and vampires to prowl the streets of base housing in search for treats. During this fun time it is also important to take steps in ensuring the safety of those participating.

As in past years, the "Pumpkin Patrol" will be patrolling the streets of base housing from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Halloween night. Pumpkin Patrol is a group of volunteers from team Nellis and Creech, who patrol the streets of base and keep an eye on trick-or-treaters.

When parents or individuals are coming on the installation to "Trick or Treat" or go to a party, it is important that they can be easily recognized by the gate guard. This means no masks or make-up are permitted that will obstruct the gate guard's ability to match the face with their identification card. If an identification cannot be made, that individual will not be permitted access to the installation.

A big part of Halloween festivities are the tricks associated with the holiday. Practical jokes that can hurt people or damage property are not permitted on the instillation.

The local trend of "Boo Bags" will also not be allowed on base for safety reasons. A "Boo Bag" is an anonymous package of candy that is secretly left on the doorstep of another person's house for festive reasons. Anytime a package is left anonymously in any location it will be taken by the appropriate agencies and destroyed. If a "Boo Bag" is left on a housing resident's front porch, they are to notify the Security Forces at 652-2311 to have it removed.

It is parents' responsibility to prepare their children for a fun and safe evening as well. The following are tips parents and children should follow to ensure a safe night of trick-or treating:

For Parents:
· Make sure an adult accompanies children as they "Trick or Treat".
· Plan and discuss the route children will take, their return time, and make sure they stick to it.
· Stay in familiar areas.
· Have children carry flashlights or glow-sticks for easier visibility.
· Make sure children stop only at houses that are well-lit, and teach them NEVER to enter the home of a stranger.
· Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten. Don't let children eat anything that is unwrapped or seems unusual. When in doubt, throw it out.
· Before eating any fruit, wash it and slice it into small pieces.
· Pin a slip of paper to the costumes of younger children listing the child's name, address and telephone number in the event the child is separated from his or her group.
· Turn on your home's exterior lights and remove any objects from your walkway that may be a hazard to trick-or-treaters. Place jack-o-lanterns out-of-reach so children won't burn themselves or their costumes. Tell your neighbors to do the same.
· If possible, send children trick-or-treating before dark.

For Children:
· Walk; don't run, from house to house.
· Use streets, sidewalks and driveways to enter and leave houses.
· Walk on the left side of the road if there are no sidewalks.
· Cross the streets at crosswalks or at corners, never in the middle of the street.
· Only accept candy that is wrapped or packaged.
· Wait until you get home to sort, check and eat your treats.
· Never enter the home of a stranger. If a stranger insists you come inside, leave immediately and tell a parent, a police officer or another trusted adult.

For Drivers:
· Stay alert and don't exceed the posted speed limit. Be especially cautious in residential neighborhoods.
· Watch for children darting out from between parked cars and walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
Remember, children may be dressed in dark clothing; driving slower than the posted speed limit greatly reduces the risk of an accident.

The Nellis and Creech AFB community is entrusted to protect the little ghosts and goblins this Halloween and ensure that the night is filled with mostly treats.

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