How to have a scary good time on Halloween

As you plan to take your children and your neighbors’ children trick-or-treating today, we want to offer an extensive list of Halloween safety tips to help you prepare to have a scary good time.

How to stay safe this Halloween, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

n Swords, knives and other costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible.

n Do not go trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with an adult your children can trust.

n Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.

n When you get home, examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them and limit the amount of treats you and your children eat.

n Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always walk and don’t run from house to house.

n Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.

n Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible. Costumes should be reflective.

n Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.

n Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.

n Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.

n Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Do not eat homemade treats made by strangers.

n Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit houses. Never accept rides from strangers.

n Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

A good alternative to trick-or-treating is a Halloween party at the home of a trusted friend or neighbor, or a Halloween party held at a school, firehouse or community building. There will be plenty of treats, gifts and good company with other children and adults.