Parents urged to check sex offender registry before taking kids trick-or-treating

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and safety officials are urging Tampa Bay families to take some extra precautions before children head out trick-or-treating.The warnings range from watching for children on busy neighborhood streets to checking where registered sexual offenders and predators live before choosing a trick-or-treating route.Neighborhood SafetyDr. Alexa Ragusa, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, says the excitement of Halloween can make children less aware of traffic and their surroundings."One of my biggest concerns is a child stepping into the street unexpectedly, especially after dark," Ragusa said.Darkness and costumes can add to the problem. A costume that does not fit properly can make it harder for a child to see where they are going, while drivers may also have difficulty spotting children after dark.Parents can improve visibility by adding reflective tape or stickers to costumes and candy bags and having children carr