Reminders for a Safe Halloween
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Scott Hammonds want to wish you a happy Halloween! While you are planning your spooky celebrations, trick-or-treating outings and other festive activities, Sheriff Hammonds asks that you keep in mind these tips to help you and your family stay safe this Halloween!
Before you plan your trick-or-treating route, take a moment to check your local sex offender registry at https://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov/. At this webpage, you can view a map of registered sex offenders’ addresses in your area and set up an alert that will notify you if a sex offender moves to your area.
After you have your treat-seeking route all planned out, follow these simple tips to keep your little candy collectors safe:
Inspect all candy before consuming – some manufacturers of potentially dangerous and intoxicating hemp products design their packaging to look just like regular candy.
Always make sure there is a trusted adult present with younger children while trick-or-treating.
Make sure kids who are old enough to set out on their own know to remain in familiar areas.
Choose a costume with bright colors or add reflective tape so children can be seen at night!
Choose costumes and masks that fit properly and do not obstruct vision or movement.
Do not accept homemade treats!
Only approach homes that are brightly lit.
Unfortunately, Halloween is one of the deadliest days of the year for pedestrians, so if you plan to be driving around your neighborhood amongst the trick-or-treaters, make sure to remain vigilant to prevent unnecessary tragedy. When driving on Halloween, remember:
Make sure your headlights are on.
Take an extra look at crosswalks and intersections for groups of trick-or-treaters crossing the road.
Drive slowly through residential areas, even if you do not see any trick-or-treaters.
Watch for children who may dart into the street.
Do not text and drive. It is against the law in North Carolina.
Do not wear costumes while driving that may obstruct your vision or make it difficult for you to react quickly behind the wheel.
If you plan to stay inside and hand out candy rather than joining the ghouls and goblins in your neighborhood, you can still help keep little ones safe:
Keep your porch and driveway clear of any tripping hazards.
Make sure your porch is well lit for trick-or-treaters.
Only hand out unopened, pre-packaged candy and treats – bonus points for full-sized candy bars!
Avoid potential fire-related accidents by using battery operated candles or glow sticks in your jack-o-lanterns and other décor.
Make sure all pets are contained when you open your door.
Sheriff Hammonds is excited to join in on the festivities this year. “This Halloween doesn’t have to be scary – unless of course you want it to be! But let’s keep the scary fun! Be considerate of members of your community and work together to keep little ones safe while they collect their treats and enjoy this frightfully fantastic holiday!”
Be safe, and on behalf of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Happy Halloween!