With all the ghouls and goblins roaming the streets on October 31, it's wise to keep aware of hazards that can spoil Halloween festivities. Follow these guidelines from Safe Kids Canada to keep your kids safe.

Costume
The fun of role-playing by wearing a costume is a Halloween delight. But when night falls, it's important to improve visibility and avoid tripping hazards. Here's how to eliminate some risks:

• Choose brightly coloured costumes and apply reflective tape.

• Give each child a flashlight to illuminate their path as they go trick-or-treating.

• If you're making a costume from scratch, use fire-resistant materials. If you're going for a store-bought costume, choose a flame-resistant one.

• Avoid costumes with loose sleeves, pants and skirts that could catch fire on lit jack-o-lanterns and candles.

• Choose face paint and makeup instead of a masks that can block your child's vision. Secure hats, wigs or scarves so they won't slip over your child's eyes.

Safe trick-or-treating
Children under nine should be supervised by an adult when going from door-to door. Children over the age of nine should be supervised by an adult or a group of older, responsible children.

• Make sure your child knows how to cross the street safely if he/she is trick-or-treating without an adult.

• Children should walk, not run, from house to house.

• Kids should stay in well lit areas and only visit homes that have the porch lights on. Children shouldn't enter any stranger's home.

• Advise your children to refrain from eating any piece of candy until you've examined it. Trash unwrapped candy, those in torn or loose packages, or any that have holes in the wrappers.