"Tricks" for making Halloween a "treat"

By Kasey Joyce

KSDK -- Halloween is supposed to be a spooky night, but parents don't need to be scared about keeping their kids safe this year.

With the candy, costumes and trick-or-treating, what's not to love about Halloween? But there's one scary statistic that can ruin the night. According to Safe Kids USA, kids are twice as likely to be hit by a car while walking on Halloween than on any other night.

But don't get spooked. Doctors say there are plenty of ways to stay safe.

Make sure your kids' costumes aren't too long and they don't obstruct their vision. If they're trick-or-treating after dark, make sure your kids have light reflectors on their costumes. Police also recommend sticking to the neighborhoods and areas you're familiar with and only knock on doors with their lights on. If possible, police say it's always a good idea to go along trick-or-treating with your kids. With all this rain, there is some concern this year about flooding.

"Make sure their costumes are fitting and that they can see," said Captain Michael Ransom of the University City Police. "Make sure they wear reflective stripes or something to make them very visible to cars. Carry flashlights. We recommend they only go to houses that they know. "

Doctors say you don't have to get your kids' candy x-rayed, but it doesn't hurt. As long as you go through your kids' candy before they eat it, they should be just fine.