Officials warn about Halloween safety

Halloween is just around the corner and with many cities in Franklin County recognizing Saturday, Oct. 30 as the day for trick-or-treating, the question of safety comes to mind.

Local law enforcement will be taking extra precautions to make sure Franklin County residents stay safe over the weekend.

“We will have extra officers on patrol making sure everyone is abiding by the traffic laws and driving slow, especially where kids will be walking down the street trick-or-treating,” Phil Campbell Police Chief Merrell Potter said. “We just ask that both motorists and trick-or-treaters use caution so everyone can have a safe and enjoyable experience.”

Red Bay Police Chief Janna Jackson finds that organized events can be the best way to trick-or-treat on Saturday.

“I know many churches will be having Trunk or Treat events or Fall Festivals, and I just urge parents to take their children to these events,” Jackson said. “Kids can get candy all in one spot, which makes it much safer.”

Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said it is important for motorists to be extremely careful, especially in highly-populated areas.

“The downtown area gets pretty congested when people are out trick-or-treating,” Hargett said. “Vehicles around Madison, Washington, Jackson and the surrounding streets should drive slow and keep an eye out for children. Sometimes the kids get excited and get away from their parents, and motorists need to be watchful of children that might run into the street.

But it’s not just the downtown area that gets congested. Many trick-or-treaters go to the different neighborhoods, and vehicles in these areas should be alert and aware of the children as well.”

Here are some other general safety tips that all local law enforcement officers encourage:

• Children should always be accompanied by an adult. If a child is old enough to go out on their own, parents should make sure they know where their child will be going and should check in with them often.

• Trick-or-treaters should wear reflective clothing, carry flashlights, stay on sidewalks where available and look both ways before crossing the street.

• Even though it’s tempting to eat Halloween candy right away, all candy should be inspected thoroughly and homemade treats and fruit should be discarded.

• Trick-or-treaters should be aware of their surroundings. If an area is not well-lit or well-populated, go in a different direction. Stay in areas with plenty of light and people.

When the right safety precautions are taken, Halloween can be a fun time for everyone involved.