Halloween is supposed to be spooky. It's a night of ghouls, vampires, and other scary stuff. But, if you're not careful—and you don't plan well—it can be a night of unfortunate accidents and bad memories. It only takes a quick second for a night of fright to turn frighteningly real.

Someone trips over the bottom of a costume. A child wanders too close to an unattended candle and gets burned. A cherished family pet, confused by all the unusual sights and sounds, takes off and gets lost.

You might be willing to stay up all night to ensure your child has the perfect costume, but how much time have you spent thinking of possible dangers and putting safety measures in place?

Many experts agree on some of the most important Halloween safety tips. They include:

• Double-check that costumes are not too long, creating a tripping hazard, and consider choosing or making costumes with light-colored materials so they can be seen easily after dusk
• Ensure that kids carry flashlights or lighted sticks while out trick-or-treating and discretely place ID information somewhere on their person in case they become separated
• Give kids a good meal before they leave so they are less likely to sneak a candy before you've had time to check it
• When decorating for Halloween, be cautious about overloading circuits and outlets, and watch that yard and house decorations don't pose a fire hazard

Kids love to put on masks for Halloween. If you choose a costume with a mask, make sure the holes are large enough to see in all directions and the mask won't slip and slide. Some parents find that using make-up is a safer option. If you do, test some of the make-up on your child's face a few days before to make sure he or she will not have a bad reaction to it.

Additionally, most experts now recommend forgoing candles for lighted sticks in pumpkins and other decorations. If you choose to use candles, keep them far away from kids visiting your house and use a glass jar around any candle inside a pumpkin. Scan your yard of debris, such as twigs and sticks, making it easy for neighborhood goblins to reach your front door.

Some parents have opted not to have kids out on the streets on Halloween. There are lots of ways you can create parties or other events where kids can dress up, get awards for the best costume, play other games, and get lots of candy or other treats.

If you do decide on a traditional Halloween, consider it a good time of year to teach basic safety to your kids. Why not create a game a week before—complete with Halloween prizes—as a unique way of reviewing Halloween and other basic safety tips? Here is what the game should teach:

1. Follow a prescribed route only. Know who is in your group and stick together.
2. Go to only houses you know and only ones that have a porch light on.
3. Never eat candy until you return home.
4. No bicycles, skateboards, or similar toys.
5. Never go inside a house, no matter what.
6. Never trick-or-treat alone; have at least two buddies and, preferably, an adult.
7. Follow all pedestrian rules as if it's a normal day.

Finally, if you have a family pet, you might think it's cute to dress it up in a costume. But, pets should never be forced to wear something. Even if your pet is normally friendly, it is best to keep them inside on Halloween, as they may be likely to vary from their everyday behavior. Make sure collars are on and ID tags are updated in case a pet gets out on Halloween.

Once you're sure your kids will have a safe Halloween, you can focus on the fun parts. Many parents want to make the most of each and every holiday season. They want perfect snapshots, they want the latest and greatest decorations, and they want their kids to be happy. But, all that planning can bring on a lot of added stress. Follow these safety tips, and you will have a great and safe Halloween Holiday!