Halloween is a time for frights, delights, sweet treats, and more. With so many Halloween costumes to choose from and candy to eat, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget to take the proper safety precautions. However, having a safe Halloween night is simple and will help make your child's night even better. Here are some of our favorite Halloween safety tips.

SAFETY FOR KIDS:

Get fitted. When choosing a costume for your child, be sure it fits properly. For example, long trailing costumes might offer that "wow" factor but can also cause kids to trip and fall or be problematic if you are near any candles or open flames. Check that masks fit properly to avoid covering their eyes or restricting their breathing.

See and be seen. Keep the kids visible to you and any vehicles, and make sure the kids themselves can see where they are going! Send them with flashlights or headlamps to help guide the way it will be dark, and they will be navigating more steps and sidewalks than usual. Try adding some reflective tape to their costumes or throw a glow stick, bracelet, and or necklaces on them (or you can tie one on to their treat bucket too since they likely will have that in hand the entire evening).

Stick together. It's always best to trick or treat in groups. Parents get to visit while the kids run from porch to porch filling their bags with treats, and the kids get to play in the dark with their friends. Older kids may want to go ahead of you and be more independent but still should stay in groups of 3 or more. Have a plan in place should they get separated for any reason as to where to meet. If your teen has a cell phone that you can ping to find locations, send that along too (make sure it's fully charged).

Follow the lights and the crowds! Stay on well-lit sidewalks and streets. Avoid any dark driveways or houses. Staying in your neighborhood is usually the safest bet. You know your way around, as do your children. Go to homes that are well lit and inviting.

SAFETY FOR PETS:

Find a safe haven. The constant ringing of the doorbell, knocking, and kids squealing "trick or treat" can upset even the friendliest pet and send them into a panic. Find a comfortable place for them to tuck away in another room until the parade of costumes at your door has come to an end.

ID Required! Even when you take all necessary precautions, accidents happen. Spooked pets may dart for the door faster than you can anticipate and get lost outside. Keep the collar on, and be sure all of the contact information is up to date. If your pet is microchipped, be sure all data is up to date!

No sugar for fur babies! Please make sure the kids know that it is not safe to feed them the goodies from their loot bags and keep candy bowls out of reach! A late-night visit to the animal hospital can put a damper on the holiday.

Costumes Optional. If your pet fights their costume, take it off. Forcing a costume can create anxiety for your pet. Many pets just like to show off their fur coats!

SAFETY TIPS FOR ADULTS:

Stick with battery-operated candles for jack-o-lanterns. They still illuminate your beautifully carved masterpiece, but without the fire hazard.

Leave the light on. Minimize any hazards for those trick or treaters at your door by keeping your walkway & porch clear and well lit.

Drive SAFE & SLOW! Anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic on Halloween, especially on residential streets. Keep in mind that the popular trick or treating hours begin as early as 5 pm for the younger kids, which is also rush hour. So take your time and be sure your lights are on earlier than usual.

Lock your door in between trick or treaters. Halloween can be a great invitation for someone to scope out your house. Whether you do have one or not, putting a sign in the yard indicating you have a security system is a great way to discourage an intruder from coming back for a second visit.

SAFE TREATS from the FDA

Eating sweet treats is also a big part of Halloween fun. If you're concerned about food safety, there are some things you should know.

Before you or your children go trick-or-treating, remember these tips:

Don't eat candy until it has been inspected at home.

Eat a snack before heading out to avoid the temptation of nibbling on a treat before it has been inspected.

In case of a food allergy, check the label to ensure the allergen isn't present. Tell children not to accept—or eat—anything that isn't commercially wrapped.

Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys from the Halloween bags.

Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

For partygoers and party throwers, FDA recommends the following tips for two seasonal favorites:

Unpasteurized juices and juices that have not been further processed are at higher risk of food-borne illness. Look for the warning label to identify juice that hasn't been pasteurized or otherwise processed, especially packaged juice products made on site. If unsure, always ask if the juice has been pasteurized or not. Normally, juice in boxes, bottles, or cans from your grocer's frozen food case, the refrigerated section, or shelf has been pasteurized.

Before bobbing for apples—a favorite Halloween game—reduce the risk of bacteria by thoroughly rinsing the apples under cool running water. As an added precaution, use a produce brush to remove surface dirt.