Halloween is tomorrow and here are some tips to help everyone have a safe and fun trick-or-treating experience.

1. Make sure the children in your care are trick-or-treating in a group or with a trusted adult.  Never let younger children trick-or-treat alone.
2. If you have an older child who will be trick-or-treating without you, set ground rules.  Plan and discuss a familiar route and set a curfew. Have the child carry a cellphone for the evening so he or she can contact you, if needed.
3. Choose face paint or makeup as instead of masks that could obstruct a child’s vision.
4. Fasten reflective tape to costumes or carry a flashlight so they can see and drivers can see them.
5. Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating.  Also avoid eating homemade treats from strangers.
6. Limit how much candy is eaten in one setting.  This can prevent tummy aches and poor nutrition.
7. Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to left as possible.  When crossing a street, look both ways first and never run out into the street.
8. Only visit well-lit houses. Don’t stop at dark houses.
9. Dress children in well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
10. At your own home, make sure anything that trick-or-treaters could trip over, such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations are put away. Clear wet leaves, snow or other debris from the sidewalk.

Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so when driving, be especially alert for kids during those hours.  Have a fun and safe Halloween!