After a year of lockdown, kids are gearing up for Halloween, and they'll be out trying to hit the houses with the best candy.
But there is some important safety information that parents and trick-or-treaters should be aware of before they hit the streets. The New York State Police are providing advice that can help everyone stay safe.
At a quick glance, something that looks like candy may contain marijuana, police say. So always check your candy labels and make sure wrappers are fully sealed.
Halloween falls on a weekend this year, meaning it's likely more kids will be out walking around neighborhoods. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that Halloween is consistently one of the top three days for pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
Officials suggest you bring a flashlight and make sure your kids have on reflective gear, so they're easily spotted by drivers.
“Kids are really excited about Halloween," said Elizabeth Carey, director of public relations for AAA. "So it's of course on Sunday, but they still might be trying to head out for maybe Beggers Night on Saturday night. People going to and from house parties, so the whole thing is to use caution, be on the lookout, scan the road, make sure you're paying attention and put that phone down so that you can concentrate on driving.”
Officials say another thing to note is that Halloween is the number-one day for vandalism, so lock your car doors and keep your house well lit.