Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale Urges Halloween Safety

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Halloween is coming up next Tuesday, and everything that accompanies the holiday - candy, pumpkins, costumes, trick or treating children and fall festivals. But Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale said he wants to remind citizens to be safe on Oct. 31, as Halloween also tends to accompany some dangerous elements of a community.

Hale said when preparing to take children trick or treating, parents should choose a definite route, and should also check the route against the county's sex offender list, The sex offenders list can be useful in determining the route parents might want to use Halloween night.

Hale listed the following safety tips:

• Consider organized events as an alternative to trick or treating
• Wear bright reflective costumes, parents should always accompany their children and carry a flashlight.
• Make sure costumes fit properly and vision is not obstructed
• Be careful crossing the street
• Have an adult carefully examine all treats. Do not consume unwrapped treats or those that appear to have been tampered with.
• Children should never go to a stranger’s home unless accompanied by an adult.
• Teens going out with friends should make sure their parents know where they will be and who they will be with.

Hale also said that anyone who feels they see anything suspicious should not hesitate to call the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)

Image from Mark Wilson/Getty Images