The day has arrived for our little witches and goblins to set out on their quest for candy. The excitement is in the air and the countdown to dark has begun. Without taking any of the fun away, let's take a moment to think about some safety tips for our little munchkins.

Many neighborhoods shut down the entrance to their development. That is a great way to keep cars off of the road while the trick or treaters are out. What are some other precautions to take to ensure a safe Halloween? NSC.org has a great list of Halloween safety advice. Here are just a few of those tips:

"Before children start out on their "trick or treat" rounds, parents should:

• Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.
• Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children's companions.
• Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
• Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger's home.
• Establish a return time.
• Tell your youngsters not to eat any treat until they return home.
• Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.
• Pin a slip of paper with the child's name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group."

The article also has some safety tips for motorists. A lot of these tips might seem obvious but it never hurts to re-visit the obvious every now and again. You might read something that makes all the difference between safety and harm.

Happy Halloween and don't forget to watch out for the ghosts and gremlins too!