Halloween is a night of fright and delight for thousands of area children and families. The Spokane Regional Health District is urging parents to follow these safety tips to help make the night safe and enjoyable.

Tips for parents:

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their trick or treat rounds.
• Use costumes that are light and reflective.
• Make sure costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flames.
• Add reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
• Put an emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
• Because a mask can limit or block eyesight, use non-toxic make up as a safe alternative.
• Only purchase costumes and accessories with a label indicating they are flame resistant.
• Make sure that any costume knives, guns or swords do not not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.
• Make sure that flashlights have fresh batteries.
• Talk about appropriate and inappropriate behavior during trick or treating.
• Eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and sidewalk. Check around your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.

Remind Trick-or-Treaters:

• Never enter a stranger's home or car for a treat.
• By using a flashlight, they can see and be seen by others.
• Stay in a group, walk slowly and communicate where you are going.
• Only trick-or-treat in well known neighborhoods at homes that have a porch light on.
• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.
• Never cut across yards or use alleys.
• Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations and cross at crosswalks.
• Always walk. Never run across a street.
• No treats are to be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an adult at home.
• Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

After trick-or-treating:

• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
• Try to apportion treats for the days following Halloween.
• Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items that can cause choking (such as hard candies), are given only to those of an appropriate age.

The Spokane Regional Health District works to promote and protect the health of all of Spokane County's residents. More information is available at www.srhd.org.