Trick-or-treat hours for Fort Leonard Wood are scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and installation officials want to make sure community members have a happy and safe Halloween.
According to James Stewart, chief of police, Law Enforcement Division, Directorate of Emergency Services, DES will have law enforcement personnel, and Soldiers from the Military Police Senior Leaders Course present to support the event.
"Personnel will be distributed throughout the four housing areas (Eagle Point, Woodlands, Stonegate, and Piney Hills)," Stewart said. "The personnel from the DES and MP SLC will be handing out glow devices to children to help keep them visible while walking in the housing areas."
Officers will have a traffic control point at the entrance of Eagle Point housing.
"Their purpose is to limit motor vehicle traffic into this area to residents and personnel travelling to a specific address," Stewart said. "In the past, this housing area received a lot of motor vehicle traffic. This was dangerous for motorist/pedestrians and greatly reduced the ability of emergency vehicles to respond in a timely manner. During the observed hours of Halloween, we will be stopping and talking to all motorist entering the housing area."
General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital Radiology Department is scheduled to offer free x-rays of Halloween candy. Community members can stop by the department from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday.
According to John Cobleigh, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood safety manager, Fort Leonard Wood officials want to make sure people are aware of how they can remain safe during the celebration
"There are many simple ways to keep safe on Halloween," Cobleigh said.
The safety office offers the following tips:
-- Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
-- Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
-- Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
-- Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them.
-- Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you.
-- Always test make-up first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
-- Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
-- Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
-- Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic.
-- Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.
-- Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
-- Enter homes only with an adult. Don't stop at dark houses.
-- Never walk near lit candles. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.
DES offers the following traffic safety information:
Motorist
-- Slowdown in residential areas and obey all traffic laws.
-- Use extreme caution while backing in areas with heavy foot traffic.
-- Eliminate distractions so you can concentrate on your surroundings.
-- Look twice before turning or backing.
Pedestrians
-- Put electronic devices down and watch your surroundings.
-- Stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
-- A mask can obstruct your vision; if possible wear face paint.
-- Carry glow sticks and or flashlights to increase visibility. You may also place reflective material on the costume for increased visibility.
-- Look left and right several times before crossing a street.
-- Always pay careful attention when walking across the entrance to driveways.
-- Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat. Parents/guardians -- A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds. -- If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. -- Agree on a specific time when children should return home.
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