"This year, Halloween falls during Daylight Savings Time," said

Rene Hopkins, Coordinator of SAFE KIDS of East Central Georgia. "Parents

and trick-or-treaters need to remember that it will be darker

earlier and plan accordingly."

Hopkins provided the following tips to help your children stay

safe and visible this Halloween season:

- Accompany your children. For all ages, escort by a parent

or other adult is a good idea. But children under 12 should definitely

have a parent or other adult with them at all times.

- Decorate costumes, bags and sacks with reflective tape

or stickers. Remember, a car traveling at 60 mph needs 260 feet

to stop completely. Reflectors make your children visible at

500 feet.

- Buy a costume in a light or bright color to ensure better

visibility at night.

- Avoid masks as they can impair a child's vision. Makeup

or nontoxic face paint is a better alternative.

- Darting out into the street is one of the most common

causes of pedestrian death among children. Even if there is adult

supervision, remind your children to walk, not run, and to stop

and look both ways before crossing. If a car is in sight, they

should not cross. The excitement of Halloween could cause them

to forget these basic traffic rules.

- Ensure better visibility and decrease the risk of falling

- Attach contact information on children's costumes in

case they get separated, and make sure they know their phone

number. Provide older children with a means of calling home.

- Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas

and on a pre-established route. They should never enter someone's

home. Also, they should be wary of cutting across lawns or yards;

yard ornaments and unfamiliar terrain make falling a hazard.

- Those planning to stay home and hand out candy can do

their part by ensuring their lawns are free of hazards and are

well-lit.

- Set a time for them to come home.

For more safety tips, visit www.safekids.org.

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