From chilling tales to creepy costumes, lots of things can be scary on Halloween night. But the real danger for children is walking in the dark. On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than any other day of the year, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. And the leading cause of injury is falls. Make sure children know the rules of the road and are as visible as possible at night.

Here are some tips to help you prepare:

Travel together. Avoid letting children walk alone and walk in large groups with a responsible adult.

Brighten up. Fasten reflective tape to kids’ costumes and treat bags so drivers can see them at night. Brightly colored costumes are better for kids.  

Look both ways. Tell your children to look both ways before crossing the street and to use crosswalks.

Stay on sidewalks. Walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.

See and be seen. Give children a flashlight or glow stick to hold while trick or treating to help them see, and to help others see them while they walk and never run from house to house.

Costumes should allow your child to see and move safely while they’re out and about.

Use make-up instead of masks to children can see better. Test make-up for sensitivity and remove before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.

Make sure costumes and shoes are well fitted so they are less likely to fall.

Use battery operated lights instead of candles.

Feed your trick-or-treaters dinner or a snack before going out so they can resist the temptation to open a piece of candy before it’s inspected.

Check candy when you get home and look for evidence of tampering. Throw away homemade treats and check labels if your child has any allergies.

Put electronic devices down, keep heads up. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.

Halloween is about making memories. Keeping children safe throughout the festivities depends on everyone – parents and kids, drivers and pedestrians – being thoughtful, attentive and careful.

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.