Even if your kids are too old to be scared of anything that Halloween throws at them, reading my new book, Taking the Scary Out of Halloween is still a good idea. Because, no matter how old a child is, Halloween can be one of the most hazardous of all of the holidays.

In Taking the Scary Out of Halloween, I put forth ten Halloween safety guidelines that can help to ensure that October 31 will be a day that ends with fun memories instead of bad ones.

Here are the ten guidelines:

SAFETY GUIDELINE #1 - Avoid wearing Halloween masks or costumes that cover your face and make it difficult for you to see or breathe.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #2 - Avoid wearing Halloween costumes that are too big or too long and might cause you to trip and fall.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #3 - Wear comfortable shoes that will not hurt your feet or cause you to trip and fall while you are trick-or-treating.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #4 – Wear some kind of light or reflector while trick-or treating so that people driving cars or bikes can see you and avoid running into you.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #5 - Be sure that an adult is with you at all times while you are trick-or-treating.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #6 - Use a flashlight while trick-or-treating to light your way in areas that do not have lighted streets or sidewalks.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #7 - Obey all of the laws for pedestrians while trick-or-treating.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #8 - Eat a nourishing meal before you begin eating any of the Halloween treats that you collect.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #9 - Have an adult examine all of the Halloween treats that you collect to make sure that they are safe for you to eat.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #10 - Avoid making yourself sick by eating too many Halloween treats.

I hope these guidelines can help your child and you have a safe and fun Halloween this year!