Staying safe on Halloween night isn't as simple as bringing a flashlight with your treat bag.

From the costumes children wear to the houses they visit to the jack-o-lanterns lighting the way, there are several ways Halloween night can be made safer for trick-or-treaters.

• Halloween-Safety.com suggests checking that a child's costume is flame-retardant and that any face covering come with eye holes that don't restrict their peripheral vision.

• A child's costume should also not include any dragging fabric that they might trip over. The National Safety Council says the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween are falls.

• Costume props are another area of concern. Any fake blades should have dull, flexible edges that won't cause injury if someone falls on them.

• If your child is wearing a popular costume, add something to it to help them stand out should you need to find them.

• The NSC suggests pinning a slip of paper with your child's name, phone number and address inside the costume should they be separated from their group.

• Prior to trick-or-treating, children may want to partake in pumpkin carving. Be sure not to give them any sharp instruments; instead, let them help clean out the pumpkin and draw the face on it.

• Motorists are advised to watch out for walking children on Halloween night, particularly those in dark clothing and those who may walk out from behind parked cars. Slow, watchful driving through residential areas is also strongly suggested.

• Safe light sources should be used to illuminate jack-o-lanterns. If using candles, pumpkins should be safely spaced so as not to endanger children whose costumes may catch fire by walking too close to them.

• Be sure to emphasize to children that rules regarding strangers are in effect Halloween night. Obviously they can take candy at the houses they visit, but be sure to remind them not to board strangers' cars and to look both ways before crossing the street. Also, be sure to instruct them not to enter the homes of the people whose houses they visit.

• These safety guidelines can best be observed by personally escorting your child and their friends along the trick-or-treating route. The NSC suggests all children younger than 12 be accompanied by an adult or responsible teenage guardian. If you are unable to escort your child, ask another adult or an older sibling to do so. If your child is only accompanied by other children, make sure you know their names.

• If you aren't going along with your child, be sure to know the route they're taking and ask them to stick to it. Make sure they stick to populated places and well-lit areas, and don't take any back roads or alleys.

• Children should walk on sidewalks and not the street. They should also stick to the left side of the road, against traffic. Crossing through yards can cause falls and possible injuries if a child walks into an unseen object or across uneven ground.

• If your child is trick-or-treating without an adult guardian, make sure they go out during daylight hours. Also, establish a time by which they must return home and emphasize the importance of sticking to that time.

• Be sure your child is carrying a flashlight or glow stick, or is wearing reflective clothing, in order to make them more visible to passing cars.

• Remind your children that ‘trick' does not mean it is OK to commit acts of vandalism, such as egg-throwing or toilet-papering houses. If you discover that your child has vandalized a house, make them clean the mess and apologize to the residents.

• Tell your child not to eat any candy until they return home. At that time, inspect the candy to ensure that it has not been tampered with or previously opened. Wash and slice all fruit and discard any items that raise doubts.

On the Net

Visit Halloween-Safety.com for more suggestions