The Marion County Sheriff's Office and the Jefferson Police Department are reminding residents of safety tips for Halloween. Trick-or-treaters should carry a flashlight, headlamp, glow stick or reflective clothing, the agencies said.
The agencies said children should cross streets in a group, using crosswalks where available, and look both ways. Young children should not be allowed to roam without close supervision, and everyone should stay with a group. Before leaving, groups should set a time and place to meet and make sure everyone can communicate and has a charged phone.
Candy should be checked before it is eaten, and any suspicious wrappers should be thrown away. The agencies warned that some people may put unwanted items in trick-or-treaters' bags. At social events, adults should not eat or drink anything whose source they cannot verify, and should not drink from unattended cups. The Marion County Dispatch center is open 24 hours a day, the agencies said.