Halloween is a safety conundrum. It's a holiday in which our kids engage in behaviors that we normally discourage: Horseplay, talking to and taking candy from people we don't know, walking around the streets at night, etc. But since there's no avoiding it, follow these tips to keep your little ghouls and goblins safe during the trick-or-treating and other holiday festivities:

Costume Safety

• Choose bright costumes or add strips of reflective tape for visibility
• Avoid costumes that are long and flowing to prevent trips and entanglements
• Avoid masks and hats that restrict vision; instead use non-toxic makeup or face paint
• Look for "flame resistant" or "flame retardant" labels on costumes and accessories

Trick-or-Treating

• An adult should accompany trick-or-treaters, especially younger ones
• If you have older kids who are going it alone, plan the route with them and restrict it to a neighborhood you know well. Also be sure to set a time you expect them home.
• Stay in groups
• Cross at crosswalks
• Use the sidewalk
• Carry a flashlight and batteries

At Home

• Remove from your yard obstacles that could trip trick-or-treaters
• Sweep leaves off your sidewalk and steps
• Place lighted pumpkins on a sturdy surface, far from the reach (and costumes) of small trick-or-treaters
• Examine all the candy your kids bring home. Throw out anything that's been opened, not in its original wrapping and homemade (if you don't know the source).

For more Halloween safety tips, visit the websites of the Home Safety Council (www.homesafetycouncil.org) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org)

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