POINT PLEASANT — Halloween is a time for trick-or-treating, candy, costumes, pumpkins and more.

However, in order to have a happy Halloween residents are encouraged to stay safe. On Thursday area youngsters will participate in trick-or-treat activities around the county, which can be an exciting experience if common safety rules are followed.

Point Pleasant Police Chief Ernie Watterson encouraged residents to stay safe by not talking to strangers and to only go to houses they know during trick-or-treat.

“Be safe. Try to wear bright clothing, stay on the sidewalk when possible and if it is dark carry a flashlight,” Watterson said.

According to the Web site, www.halloween-safety.com, children should only trick-or-treat in the daylight unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult. Parents also are encouraged to plan a safe route so they know where their children will be at all times during trick-or-treat. In addition, children should be told not to cut through back alleys and fields and to stay in populated, well-lit areas.

Trick-or-treaters should carry a flashlight, glow stick or put reflective tape on their costumes to make them more visible to cars. Parents also are advised to instruct their children to not eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined. A good way to ensure that treats are not consumed until after trick-or-treating is to have children eat dinner before going out.

Choosing the proper costume is another way to stay safe on Halloween. Make sure costumes are fireproof and that eye holes are large enough for good peripheral vision. Costume props such as a scythe, butcher knife or pitch fork, should have smooth and flexible enough tips to not cause injury if fallen upon. Parents should also ensure that lit jack-o-lanterns are out of the way so that children’s costumes will not be accidentally set on fire.

Halloween also brings about activities, such as pumpkin carving. Pumpkin carving can be fun, but dangerous. Small children should not be allowed to use a sharp knife to cut the top or the face of the jack-o-lantern. According to www.halloween-safety.com, there are many kits available that come with tiny saws that work better and are safer than knives. Children that participate in pumpkin carving should clean out the pumpkin and draw a design on the face, while parents do the carving.

Trick-or-treat times for all areas outside of municipalities in Mason County will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Other trick-or-treat times are:

• Point Pleasant, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday

• Mason, 6-7 p.m. Thursday

• Hartford, 6-7 p.m. Thursday

• New Haven, 6-7 p.m. Thursday

• Leon, 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday

Other area Halloween events include the annual Halloween Block Party at the Point Pleasant Riverfront Park, which is slated to take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The Town of New Haven also will sponsor an after trick-or-treat party from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. on Thursday at the New Haven Fire Department.