— From the office of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame
The Halloween holiday is quickly approaching, and many in Vance County have already been participating in fun and spooky activities. Before you head out to participate in trick-or-treating, haunted houses or costume parties, keep in mind these tips from Sheriff Curtis R. Brame to help you and your family stay safe while you enjoy the festivities.
If you plan to go out in search of treats, parents and guardians should take the time to check their 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 also set up an alert that will notify you if a sex offender moves to your area.
Once you have determined the best route for treat-seeking, Sheriff Curtis R. Brame hopes you will follow these basic safety tips to keep your little ghouls and goblins safe:
- When choosing a Halloween costume, pick one with bright colors or add reflective tape so children can be seen in low light.
- Make sure masks or costumes do not obstruct vision or movement.
- Always make sure there is an adult present with younger kids while trick-or-treating, and older kids know to only visit familiar areas.
- Never accept homemade treats, even if it is from a home in a familiar neighborhood.
- Carefully inspect all candy at home before eating. Discard any that have been previously opened, tampered with, or have labels that do not appear to be from the original manufacturer.
- 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 spooky 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 festive crowds, 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.
- 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.
“Halloween is a great time for families and friends to celebrate the fall season, which means there may be a large number of people out and about enjoying the festivities,” noted Sheriff Curtis R. Brame. “It is important to take extra precautions on busy holidays like this one to help you and everyone in our community can have a safe and enjoyable time. We can work together to make sure that the only scary thing about this Halloween is the spooky decorations and ghoulish costumes!”
Contact the Sheriff’s Office at 252.738.2200 to learn more.
