Halloween fun is just around the corner. While children gear up with costumes and parties it is important to practice safe trick-or-treating in order for everyone to have a fun and safe holiday.

The website Haunted Illinois has a listing of Trick-or-Treat dates and times by community. There you can also find a listing of Illinois haunted houses and Halloween related events.  

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, has provided the following important tips to follow to have a fun and safe Trick-or-Treating:

• Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.

• Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.

• Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.

• Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.

• Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don't run from house to house.

• Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.

• Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.

• Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.

• Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe. 

• Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.

• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.

• Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit houses. Don't stop at dark houses. Never accept rides from strangers.

• Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.