Halloween night is quickly approaching, as children across the area will take to the streets in search of their favorite tasty treats.

And, while a relatively safe, time old tradition, Geisinger offers several tips to make sure trick-or-treating doesn’t turn into a nightmare.

“We highly suggest that children under 12 be with a responsible adult, because they’re a little bit more ready to jump out into the street without having somebody to direct them,” Deborah Erdman, Outreach/Injury Prevention Coordinator for Geisinger Health System, said, explaining that children are twice as likely to be hit and/or killed by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year.”

Children and those accompanying them should always cross at corners within designated crosswalks, look both ways and obey traffic signals, Erdman urged.

“Make eye contact with drivers, so that the drivers know what your intention is, and teach children to stay on the sidewalks or to walk against traffic if no sidewalk is available, and watch out for cars that might be backing up or pulling in and out of driveways or parking lots,” she said.

Costumes should be bright and reflective, and be tapered to avoid the possibility of tripping over them.

“We also recommend that children carry a flashlight or some kind of a glow stick, so they can be seen,” Erdman said.

“And avoid wearing masks, because kids’ peripheral vision is cut off by masks, so we recommend face paint or something along those lines,” Erdman stressed.

On the flip side, driver’s can do their part by being extra aware of their surroundings between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. during their community trick-or-treat night.

“Take time for those kids at intersections and crosswalks. Be careful entering and exiting driveways and parking lots,” Erdman said.

While the story of the razor blade in the apple and other tampered candy is largely an urban myth at this point, according to Erdman, there are some common sense precautions parents and guardians can take to help their children consume their goodies safely.

“I would avoid anything that’s loose or open, like baked goods or fresh fruit, those kinds of things, unless you know the giver personally,” Erdman said.

With the growth of CBD and marijuana-infused edibles, Erdman also said to be aware of look-alike packaging.

“If in doubt, throw it out,” she advised, noting that emergency rooms will likely not be running bags of candy through X-ray machines.

With so many affected by food allergies, Erdman advises those handing out candy to be aware of common allergens, especially nut products.

“Kids might say, ‘I can’t take it because I have an allergy to it,’ so sort of have a backup. I personally use Smarties and Dum Dums, because it’s just sugar, and there’s rarely any incidents of allergies pertaining to those things,” she said.

Additionally, those handing out candy should be aware that some children may be non-verbal and might not offer the traditional “trick-or-treat” when going from door to door. Many of them are distinguished by carrying blue buckets. But, in any case, a child’s silence should not be taken as a sign of rudeness.

A cardinal rule to be followed while trick-or-treating is to avoid any houses with their front porch lights off, Erdman stressed.

“If you don’t know the people at houses where the lights aren’t on, don’t go knocking, because usually, people who are going to be expecting the trick-or-treaters will have their porch lights on,” she explained.

If an incident of any kind should occur, Erdman said Geisinger will be well prepared.

“Our pediatric emergency room will be all geared up and ready for it,” she said.

“Parents and individuals can also go to the convenient care or the urgent care centers if it’s nothing serious, and they can evaluate them and make the determination on whether they need to be seen in the emergency room or not,” Erdman explained.

Below are trick-or-treat and Halloween parade times around Lycoming County:

• Williamsport, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

• South Williamsport, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

• Old Lycoming, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

• Loyalsock Township, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

• Montoursville, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

• DuBoistown, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

• Muncy Borough, parade 5:30 p.m., trick or-treating 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

• Hughesville, parade: 5:30 p.m.; Trick or treating: 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 31

• Montgomery, parade: 6 p.m.; Trick or treating: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 31

• Jersey Shore, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

• Picture Rocks, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

• Avis, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

• Salladasburg, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

Other community events include:

• DuBoistown Halloween community event, 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, LeRoy O. Buck Post 7863, 150 Shaffer St., DuBoistown.

• Pennsdale Haunted Barn kid-friendly trunk-or-treat, 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, 261 Village Road, Muncy.

• Montgomery Elementary School trunk-or-treat, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 120 Penn St., Montgomery.

• State Police Troop F trunk-or-treat, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Donald E. Schick Elementary, 2800 Four Mile Drive, Montoursville.

• Downtown Halloween trick-or-treat and Fall Fest, 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, Fourth Street between Market and William streets.

• Trunk-or-treat and haunted house, 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, Shaw Place Park, 1501 Sherman St.