Trick or Treat! October 31 in Anderson

ANDERSON, IN - City of Anderson Police Chief Frank Burrows has announced that the official hours for Halloween trick or treating will be 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31.

The chief also offered these safety tips to all children:

    * Carry a flashlight
    * Walk, don't run.
    * Stay on Sidewalks
    * Obey traffic signals
    * Stay in familiar neighborhoods
    * Don't cut across yards or driveways.
    * Wear a watch you can read in the dark.
    * Make sure costumes don't drag on the ground.
    * Shoes should fit (even if they don't go with your costume)
    * Avoid wearing masks while walking from house to house.
    * Carry only flexible knives, swords or other props.
    * (If no sidewalk) walk on the left side of the road facing traffic
    * Wear clothing with reflective markings or tape.
    * Approach only houses that are lit.
    * Stay away from and don't pet animals you don't know.

The Anderson Police Department encouraged all parents to:

    * Make your child eat dinner before setting out.
    * Children should carry quarters so they can call home.
    * Ideally, young children of any age should be accompanied by an adult.
    * If your children go on their own, be sure they wear a watch, preferably one that can be read in the dark.
    * If you buy a costume, look for one made of flame-retardant material.
    * Older children should know where to reach you and when to be home.
    * Know where your children are going.
    * Although tampering is rare, tell children to bring the candy home to be inspected before consuming anything.
    * Look at the wrapping carefully and toss out anything that looks suspect.

And for homeowners, he suggested:

    * Make sure your yard is clear of such things as ladders, hoses, dog leashes and flower pots that can trip the young ones.
    * Pets get frightened on Halloween. Put them up to protect them from cars or inadvertently biting a trick-or-treater.
    * Battery powered jack o'lantern candles are preferable to a real flame.
    * If you do use candles, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
    * Make sure paper or cloth yard decorations won't be blown into a flaming candle.
    * Healthy food alternatives for trick-or-treaters include packages of low-fat crackers with cheese or peanut butter filling, single-serve boxes of cereal, packaged fruit rolls, mini boxes of raisins and single-serve packets of low-fat popcorn that can be microwaved later.
    * Non-food treats: plastic rings, pencils, stickers, erasers, coins.