Courtesy of the Knoxville Police Department and the Knoxville Fire Department, here are some tips to make sure Halloween goes well for you and your children.

• Make sure your children wear a costume that fits (so they don’t trip over it), and that they can see and hear well. Masks should allow full vision. If possible, wear face paint instead of a mask.

• Purchase or use only flame-retardant costumes and masks. 

• Choose a costume that is light in color. Put reflective or glow in the dark patches on it so your children are easily seen.

• Try to trick-or-treat when it is still light outside. Carry a flashlight in case of delay.

• Stay within your neighborhood and only visit homes you know or attend a church organized event instead of going door-to-door.

• An adult or older sibling should accompany younger children or travel in groups for safety.

• Instruct your children not to go into homes or apartments.

• Use sidewalks, where possible, and obey traffic signals. Avoid walking in the street. For better vision, remove masks before crossing the streets.

• Establish rules for children to follow and review them before the children are allowed to trick-or-treat.

• Advise children to accept only sealed treats, and not to eat any treats until you examine them at home.

• If you discover that your child has received treats that have been tampered with, try to determine where they came from. Report the incident to police.

• Those who welcome trick-or-treaters should turn on their porch lights

• Instead of a candle to light a jack-o-lantern, use a small flashlight or a liquid light that glows for several hours after you bend it.

• Never use combustible materials in a haunted house or display, especially styrofoam and other plastics, gauze type materials and other loose flammables such as leaves and papers. These materials can quickly cause the spread of fire.

• Haunted house operators should be careful not to block exits for fire escape and emergency lighting systems must remain in operable condition. Fire escapes also should be clearly marked.

• People with questions on what materials are acceptable for use in putting up a haunted house display should contact the Knoxville Fire Department at 865-595-4480.