Let's have a fun, but safe, Halloween

Check out the Gazette's Facebook site, http://on.fb.me/1LFdXsp on Thursday to vote on your favorite employee's costume.

We also hope you'll bring the kids to the Gazette/McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Halloween Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Keystone Business Center, 402 Norris Ave. in downtown McCook for the annual Halloween parade.

The weather should be good for the last day of October, highs predicted in the high 60s, so there should be plenty of ghosts and goblins hitting the streets.

Let's make sure they all have a safe, fun time.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services remind parents and caregivers to make sure Halloween night is a safe one:

*Never trick-or-treat alone. Young children should be accompanied by an adult. Older kids who are going trick-or-treating with friends should stick to a predetermined route with good lighting.

* Costumes and bags should be decorated with reflective tape and, if possible, made of light colors. Kids can carry glow sticks or flashlights to be more visible to others and drivers.

* Walk, don't run. Cross the street only at a crosswalk or corner, after looking both ways, and never dart out into the street.

* Drivers can do their part by being especially careful in residential neighborhoods. Slow down and look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.

Other potential Halloween hazards and precautions to take:

Falls -- Costumes should be short enough to avoid tripping, and shoes and headgear should fit properly. Choose face paint and makeup, because they do not restrict vision as masks do. Toy weapons and other props should be flexible so they do not present an injury hazard if the child falls.

Burns -- Make sure store-bought costumes and accessories are labeled "flame resistant" and use flame-resistant material when making costumes. Avoid baggy, flimsy or billowing costumes. Keep jack-o'-lanterns lit with candles away from doorsteps and walkways, and consider using glow sticks instead of candles.

Tampered Candy -- Parents should inspect candy and treats to make sure they are sealed and show no signs of tampering. Children under age 6 should not be given hard candy or other small, round items because of the choking hazard.

Sick Children -- Children who are already sick should not go trick-or-treating on Halloween to avoid spreading colds or viruses to other children.