If the predicted superstorm decides to avoid Schuylkill County this week, parents are urged by local police to follow a few simple steps to create a safe trick-or-treating environment for their children Wednesday.
"One thing parents should do is to make sure their children wear something that illuminates them," Minersville police Chief Michael Combs said Friday. "Lighting is imperative because obviously it will be dark and the kids will be wearing dark clothing."
Schuylkill Haven police Chief Jeff Walcott said the police department will be handing out glowsticks and trick-or-treat bags with safety tips in addition to candy Wednesday evening.
"As always, common sense applies. We encourage parents to go with their younger kids," Walcott said Friday. "We want to emphasize visibility, which can be tough to do with costumes. The best way to do that is with glowsticks, lights and reflective items. Parents, don't let the kids dictate how they want to look."
Both police departments said there will be more officers on patrol that night.
"Although most parents want to focus on strangers and that does need attention, the focus should be on the most prevalent danger and that's traffic," Walcott said.
Walcott said children often go trick-or-treating in neighborhoods they may not be familiar with and can lose their commonsense when rushing from house to house.
Combs also said parents should always check the candy before the children consume anything.
"I'm not aware of any problems like that during my time in Minersville, but its always a precaution to take. If it looks suspicious, throw it out."
In the future, Combs said Minersville may have a "Safe Trick or Treat" with candy and games at the police department.
"I think that's a good thing as it still gives the kids a night out but also a safe environment," Combs said.
Combs said participation from both kids and houses during the annual tradition hasn't been as prevalent as it once was in the borough.
"We also want to encourage more people to participate because the kids enjoy it. It's a big deal to them and we would like to see more participation from the community," Combs said. "It's important to remember that we were all kids once."
Combs also said having more neighbors on their porches helps keep an on the neighborhood.
"Some people are more fearful today," Combs said. "They don't want any strangers around them but let's face it, most of the communities around here are close-knit communities and everyone knows everyone. You just have to stay in your safety zone."
Walcott said Schuylkill Haven has actually seen an increase in trick-or-treaters over the past couple years, especially to the police department where the officers hand out candy and interact with the children.
"The last three or four years, it has increased because we do something different," Walcott said.
This year, the police department along with students at Penn State Schuylkill will stage several spooky scenes.
On Thursday, Penn State Schuylkill hosted a safe trick or treat event for the community.
"That was a great idea and another proactive approach to try and cut off any potential dangers," Walcott said.
With the storm putting the Wednesday night trick-or-treating in jeopardy, local residents should anticipate rescheduling and can call their municipalities for updates.
"We are just encouraging parents and kids alike to be aware of their surroundings and have a great night," Walcott said.