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Halloween is less than a week away and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office wants all local kids to stay safe.
Sheriff Craig Webre said deputies will conduct their annual Blue Light Special patrol on Halloween in order to keep trick or treaters safe.
More than 100 deputies will patrol the streets of Lafourche on Halloween night beginning at 5:30 p.m. and lasting through 8:30 p.m.
Deputies will patrol with their emergency lights on to remind motorists to drive slowly and to be extremely cautious as children are on the streets.
“In what has become our annual tradition, every deputy assigned a vehicle will fan out across the parish to ensure a safe night for trick-or-treaters,” said Sheriff Webre. Adults are encouraged to keep a close watch for all children and report any incidents or suspicious activity to a nearby deputy or by calling us directly.”
Webre said in addition to the special patrol, he wanted to offer safety tips to parents and trick or treaters to make the process smoother for all involved:
- Make your child’s costume distinguishable and safe. Ensure your child can easily walk in the costume and that the fabric is flame retardant. Use glow bracelets/sticks, reflective tape, and flashlights. With store-bought costumes, change or add something to make your child distinguishable from others.
- Maintain proper supervision for your children. We strongly urge parents to supervise their own children. If you must entrust your child to another adult, obtain up-to-date contact information. If they are headed out with a group, make sure there is a buddy system in place.
- Stay off your smartphone. Adults should be ever-vigilant while supervising children, and no one should be walking along the roadside while looking down or distracted. Carry a standard flashlight instead of draining your smartphone battery by attempting to use the built-in light.
- Inspect all treats collected. Discard anything that is not sealed, has torn packaging, looks questionable, or could be a choking hazard.
- Talk to your children about safety. Remind them to walk (don’t run) on sidewalks or near the edge of the roadway – never in the center and always facing traffic. Remind them to stay in front of residences giving out candy and NEVER enter a residence. Have a plan for in case you and your child get separated. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
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Authorities also want to urge residents who want to participate in Halloween to prepare early. Clear sidewalks and pathways of obstacles and put away anything that children may trip over. LPSO also suggests you turn on your lights so that your property is well-lit and also to secure any pets that may attack or frighten children.
Motorists are asked to keep their travel to a minimum on Halloween night due to the high number of pedestrians on the streets.
Those who must be on the roads are asked to be cautious in residential areas.
“While it’s always a best practice to eliminate all driving distractions such as smartphones or the radio, we encourage drivers to pay special attention to their driving on Halloween night with so many children present,” said Sheriff Webre. “Children are excited and may move in unpredictable ways.”
Authorities are also going to be pro-active to ensure that laws are being followed.
Sex offenders are not allowed to wear masks or hand out candy or gifts on a holiday like Halloween.
Authorities will visit local sex offenders in the parish on Halloween to make sure they are complying with the terms of their sentences.
