With witches, goblins, and super-heroes descending on neighborhoods across America, the American Red Cross offers parents some safety tips to help prepare their children for a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treat holiday. Halloween should be filled with surprise and enjoyment, and following some common sense practices can keep events safer and more fun.

• Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.
• Look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars and trucks
• Cross the street only at corners.
• Don't hide or cross the street between parked cars.
• Wear light-colored or reflective-type clothing so you are more visible. (And remember to put reflective tape on bikes, and skateboards)
• Plan your route and share it with your family. If possible, have an adult go with you.
• Carry a flashlight to light your way.
• Keep away from open fires and candles. (Costumes can be extremely flammable.)
• ONLY visit homes that have the porch light on.
• Accept your treats at the door and never go into a stranger's house.
• Use face paint rather than masks or things that will cover your eyes.
• Be cautious of animals and strangers.

Have a grown-up inspect your treats before eating. And don't eat candy if the package is already opened. Small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.

TRICK OR TREAT ALTERNATIVES

1) Host a Halloween Party for the kids with elaborate decorations, fun food, a Halloween themed scavenger hunt and lots of candy!

2) Check out your local mall. Many malls have a trick-or-treat night where stores participate by handing out goodies to kids dressed for the holiday.

3) Be the "best house on the block" giving out candy. This is especially helpful with little ones that are too young for trick-or-treat and for kids who are too old to go.

4) Have a spooky sleepover. Get the kids together to watch scary or Halloween themed movies,stay up until midnight and see who can tell the scariest story.

5) Trunk-or-Treat. People get together in a large parking lot and decorate the trunks of their cars just like they would their front porch and fill the trunk with goodies. Kids then dress up and walk from trunk to trunk instead of door to door. Parents can keep a close eye on their kids and extra fun is added with a costume contest and baked goods served afterward.

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