Halloween is quickly approaching, here are 10 tips to keep your kids and pets safe this year and avoid any unnecessary scares.

1. Make sure kids are visible when they are out trick-or-treating. Glow sticks and reflective tape are cost-effective ways to make sure little ones can be seen while they are going door-to-door.

2. Stick to one side of the street at a time and avoid crisscrossing to prevent any accidents.

3. Costumes can be fun – but tripping and slipping aren’t! Avoid costumes that can cause trips, slips, and falls. Plastic heels for all those Elsa’s and Anna’s can also be tricky! Stick to the treats and wear comfortable shoes.

4. Inspect all candies for tears, choking hazards, and any suspicious looking items. Any home-baked or non-commercially packaged items should be discarded.

5. Make sure all young children have a parents phone number somewhere on their person in case they get separated from the group. Instruct little ones to look for a mom with kids to go to for help in case they do get lost in all the excitement.

6. With all the little ones coming up to the door, things can easily be knocked over. Stick to battery operated flame less candles or glow sticks in jack-o-lanterns to prevent accidents from happening.

7. Pets are part of the family, but on Halloween, all the excitement and noises can be pretty scary. Keep pets indoors, away from the door, somewhere they will be comfortable if there are loud noises coming from fireworks etc.

8. Chocolate, sugar-free gum, and raisins can be toxic to our furry friends. Stash these treats away from Scruffy or Fluffy.

9. Fireworks, Crackers, and Screams, oh my! Halloween can make for some frightening sounds, but sometimes those sounds can cause our pets to get scared and run off. Ensure all members of the fur family have proper ID tags on ahead of Hallows’ Eve to ensure a safe return if anyone does run off.

10. Most importantly have fun! Try not to eat all the candy in one night!

Happy Halloween!