It's Halloweeeeen! Less than two weeks away. Here's some important safety tips from us. I hope you find it informative and useful. Please pass it on to your friends and neighbors!

Everyone wants to have a safe and happy Halloween for themselves, their guests and their children. Using safety tips and common sense can help you make the most of your Halloween season and make it as enjoyable for your kids as it is for you! There are many ways to keep your child safe at Halloween, when they are more prone to accidents and injuries. Simple common sense can do a lot to stop any tragedies from happening.

Make Halloween a fun, safe and happy time for your kids and they'll carry on the tradition that you taught them to their own families some day! Having a safe Halloween will make happy lasting memories for you and your children.

Following these safety tips can help ensure a safe and fun Halloween for your children and you.

• Make sure costumes are flame-retardant.
• Costumes should be kept short to prevent tripping.
• Have children wear comfortable shoes.
• Use make-up instead of a mask.
• Avoid costumes with masks, wigs, floppy hats or eye patches that block vision.
• Have an adult apply the makeup and remove it with cold cream instead of soap and water.
• Masks can be hot and can obstruct child's view.
• Children should wear light colors or place reflective tape on costumes.
• Wear bright, reflective clothing or have reflective patches somewhere on the costume if you are going out at night in your costume.
• Avoid pointed props such as spears, swords or wands that endanger other children's eyes.
• Make costume accessories, (such as knives, guns, or swords) from cardboard or flexible materials.

• Turn on exterior lights to welcome trick-or-treaters.
• Take extra care to protect your pets from cars and to prevent them from biting any trick or treaters.
• Be sure the path and stairs to your front door are well illuminated and clear of obstacles.
• Remove toys and other items from sidewalks and yard.
• Have your Neighborhood Watch or citizen's group assist in patrolling the neighborhood.
• Ask for volunteers to act as crossing guards.
• If you operate a motor vehicle, drive slowly and be observant for children.
• Report suspicious activity or criminal activity to police.

• Older children should travel with friends. Never alone.
• Be very cautious of strangers. And accept treats only in the doorway - never go inside a house.
• Visit only houses where the lights are on.
• Walk on sidewalks and driveways when possible, and cross the street at the corner or in a crosswalk.
• Don't cut across yards where debris and other hard-to-see objects can cause bad injuries.
• Don't play near lit jack-o-lanterns.
• Set time limits for children to trick-or-treat.
• Map out a safe route. No shortcuts.
• Tell children not to enter a stranger's house.
• Have children trick-or-treat while it's still light outside.
• If it is dark, have them carry a flashlight to illuminate sidewalks, steps and paths.
• Tell your children not to eat treats until they return home and have you inspect them first.
• Allow children to eat only unopened candies and in original wrappers.
• No one should drive while wearing a mask. Obey all traffic signals, both as a pedestrian and a driver. Never dart out from between parked cars or hidden corners such as alleys. Avoid streets under construction. Don't trick-or-treat in busy commercial areas or where there is heavy traffic.

We wish you a safe and happy Halloween!!