BOO!

This Halloween, stay safe from scary surprises.

Whether it’s ghosts and goblins or Freddy and Jason, everyone’s afraid of something. And Halloween is our favorite time of year for hair-raising, bone-chilling and goose-bumping. But while most scares are harmless fun, others can have more frightening consequences.

Are you prepared to enjoy a spirited yet safe All Hallow’s Eve? Take this Halloween safety quiz to find out. And to steer clear of Halloween hazards, check out these not-so-haunted hints:

Halloween party safety tips

• If you’re using dry ice in a punch bowl, make sure to keep the chips out—if ingested, they can cause severe injury.
• Use wax candles rather than those made of gel, which can occasionally flare up.

Trick-or-treating safety tips (suggestions from the the National Safety Council):

Parents:

• Have an adult or responsible older child supervise trick-or-treating outings for kids under 12.
• Remind kids never to enter a stranger's home.
• Tell children to refrain from eating any treats until they get home.

Costume Design:

• Get costumes made of fire-retardant materials.
• Make sure they’re loose so warm layers can be worn underneath.
• If kids will be out after dark, look for light-colored materials or stick on strips of retro-reflective tape to increase visibility.

Treats:

• Feed kids an early meal before trick-or-treating begins.
• Inspect all treats before any are eaten.
• If fruit is received, wash it and slice into small pieces.
• When in doubt, throw it out.

More Halloween pumpkin-seeds for thought:

• The top 20 kid and adult costumes for 2005
• The top 10 pet costumes for 2005 (scroll down)