Soon our streets will be scattered with little ghosts, goblins, and witches trick-or-treating this Halloween. “Halloween should be filled with surprise and enjoyment and following some common-sense practices can keep events safer and more fun,” says Onslow County Sheriff Hans Miller. Sheriff Miller also recommends that supervising adults and parents adhere to the Trick-or-Treat times recommended by the City of Jacksonville and Onslow County of 5:30-8PM.
The Sheriff recommends all Onslow County residents to follow these safety tips:
COVID-19:
- Follow State and County health policies.
- Halloween costume masks are not suitable to provide COVID-19 protection.
- Promote the use of hand sanitizer by trick-or-treaters and their families.
- Encourage social distancing.
- Avoid going to an any place where people may be crowded together.
MOTORISTS:
- Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
- Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
- At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.
PARENTS:
- Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.
- Check the sex offender registry at www.ncdoj.gov when planning your child’s trick-or-treat route. You can view maps that pinpoint registered offenders’ addresses in your neighborhood and sign up to get email alerts when an offender moves nearby.
- Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children's companions.
- Make sure older kids trick-or-treat in a group, not alone.
- Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
- Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger's home.
- Establish a return time.
- Tell your youngsters not to eat any treats until they return home. Inspect all treats.
- Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.
- All children need to know their home telephone number and how to call 9-1-1 in case of emergency.
- Pin a slip of paper with the child's name, address, and telephone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.