Halloween is a time for kids of all ages to don their costumes and hit the streets in their quest for bulging bags of candy, but Washington County Sheriff Deputy Jared Schneider reminds kids and families it’s important to remember to stay safe while Trick-or-Treating. Schneider said the first step to having a safe candy expedition is to make sure you’re clearly seen. He says it’s a good idea to either dress in bright colors or at least use reflective tape or stickers to make sure cars can see children clearly at night. Additionally, he says there’s typically a lot of cars on the roads during Trick-or-Treating times. Because of that, kids should remember to look both ways before crossing the streets, and also watch for cars turning into and pulling out of driveways to pick up kids they may have dropped off.

In the past, there have been horror stories about apples with razor blades or taffy laced with drugs, and while Schneider says they haven’t had any occurrences of that here, parents should still be mindful of what their children are receiving. He says it’s also a good idea for parents to accompany their children during Trick-or-Treating, at least until they’re 10 or older. Finally, he advises people to keep an eye out for unruly trouble-makers who might be looking to pull pranks. He says a lot of people who pull Halloween pranks do so in a fun or good-natured manner, but there are those who aim to be more destructive. If anyone sees suspicious behavior or witnesses anyone damaging property, Schneider urges them to call the authorities.