Here's To Spooky, Safe Halloween Fun

PALO ALTO, CA -- From Point Reyes to Lake Tahoe and Crescent City to Chula Vista, public safety officials are hoping for the best when it comes to thousands of people hitting the streets Wednesday night for Halloween festivities.

The concern is real life is scary enough. Come home safely and ensure others do too. That king-size candy bar isn't worth an accident or bad decision.

The California Office of Emergency Services as well as the Palo Alto, Los Altos and San Jose police departments issued tips to ensure a safe Halloween without giving up the fun.

While on the trick or treat trail:

• Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
• Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
• Put electronic devices down, stay alert and keep your head up while walking across the street. (Note: a woman once walked and fell into a water fountain looking at her smart phone -- dumb move.)
• Teach your children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
• Trick or treat with an adult, as children under the age of 12 shoudl not be alone at night without supervision. If they're out, the children should stick with familiar places.
• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers, and if possible, choose light colors.
• Choose face paint versus masks in order to see better.
• Tell your children never enter a stranger's home while trick or treating.
• Parents should inspect all treats before allowing their children to eat them.
• Try to trick or treat while it's still light outside.
• If you must trick or treat after dark, carry a flashlight.
• Adults try to escort children.
• Plan your trick or treat route ahead of time.
• Set a specific time in which older kids need to return home.
• Always use the sidewalk.
• Watch out for open flames from jack-o-lanterns on porches.
• Ensure costumes with props like fake knives and swords are made with flexible material.
• Refrain from using toy weapons that look realistic.
• Set rules that your children delay eating the candy until they get home.
• Throw away treats that have been open.
• Use glow sticks.

Drivers should be aware of extra pedestrians out and about -- many of them children.

• Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods.
• Take extra time to review intersections.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.

--Image via Shutterstock