As we dress up our kids and either take them out or send them out to trick or treat Saturday, or as we are out and about in our cars, we need to keep safety at the front of our minds.

Halloween is great fun for kids and grown-ups alike — the costumes, the candy, the parties — but it’s important to be safe. The costumes, candy, and parties all have their own dangers.

Some tips before the ghouls and goblins hit the streets:

• A costume should not be longer than a child’s ankles to ensure he or she doesn’t trip or fall while walking up and down stairs. Select well-fitting footwear and avoid high heels for young children.

•  Inspect each Halloween treat bag carefully and remove any treats that look like they have been opened, tampered with, or pose a choking hazard.

• Parents should monitor a child’s Internet use because information on homemade explosives and fireworks is readily available on some sites.

• Make sure your children can be seen.

Visibility is a very important safety consideration. Flashlights with fresh batteries, glow sticks and reflective tape are must-haves on Halloween and will enable drivers to see kids as they scout from door-to-door.

• Parents should make sure the “loot route” is planned along well-lit streets; accompany children and make sure the group travels together; and review the “rules of the road” before starting out.

• Slow down as you drive through residential areas — 10 kilometres an hour slower can make a big difference in an emergency stop; watch for children darting out from behind parked cars; and do not drive if you have been drinking — find alternate transportation such as riding with a designated driver, taking a taxi or using transit.

Have a safe and fun Halloween!