Sheriff's Office: Halloween Safety Tips, Strategic Patrols

Halloween is Monday and trick-or-treating is planned throughout the county. But be aware that not all of those police officers are trick-or-treaters, some of them will actually be Carroll County sheriffs on patrol.

The Carroll County Sheriff's Office is encouraging citizens to be safe and aware during trick-or-treating festivities.

DRIVERS

According to recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, nationwide 41 percent of all traffic fatalities from 6 p.m. Halloween night until 6 a.m. the following morning involved a driver with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Carroll County Sheriffs suggest motorists follow these tips to insure a safe Halloween night:

• Designate your sober driver before going out and give that person your keys;
• If you’re impaired, call a taxi, a sober friend or family member to help get you home safely;
• Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement.

PARENTS

Additionally, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office encourages parents to be involved during trick-or-treat festivities. Specifically, it is important for parents to be aware of the following safety rules for their children when they are trick-or-treating:

• Know your trick-or-treaters' route;
• Take a flashlight;
• Be sure costumes, shoes, and treat bags are safe;
• Remind kids not to enter strangers' homes or cars;
• Set rules about not eating treats until kids get home, and inspect all treats before allowing kids to eat them;
• Candy that has been opened should be thrown away, and homemade treats or fruit inspected closely;
• Remember drivers have a hard time seeing people, especially at dusk;
• Never cross the street from between parked cars;
• Watch open flames from jack-o-lanterns as they can catch costumes and long wigs on fire;
• Make sure that fake knives, swords, and guns are made from cardboard or other flexible materials to avoid accidental injury or worse, have them mistaken for the real thing.

 HOME

It is also important to ensure that your home is safe and accessible to trick-or-treaters.

• Turn on your porch light.
• Move lit jack-o-lanterns off the porch where kids get bunched up if they are trick-or-treating in groups.
• Remove objects from your yard that might cause a slip, trip or fall.
• Drive slowly all evening; you never know what creature(s) may suddenly cross your path.

To promote safety and community awareness during the annual Trick-or-Treat holiday, Sheriff’s Deputies will be conducting additional patrols through residential developments.  Residents should report any suspicious or criminal activity to the sheriff’s office or local police agency.