UPDATE:  Aside from the candy recalls cited below, beware that the CPSC has also announced the recall  of 682,000 Halloween-themed lanterens sold by Dollar Tree Stores.  The CPSC has also announced tips on how to prevent costume and Haloween decoration-related injuries.

The ghosts and goblins roaming the streets on Halloween night aren’t the only things that are scary—so are the accident statistics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the number of deaths among child pedestrians (ages 5 to 14) is four times as many on Halloween evening than any other evening of the year. Aside from keeping kids safe on the streets, there are other safety precautions that you can take to make Halloween a fun-filled fright night:

Costumes: Buy costumes that are labeled “flame resistant” and avoid baggy, billowing skirts and cloaks that might brush against a candle-lit jack-o-lantern or luminary. Make sure your kids won’t trip over their costumes and avoid accessories like swords and canes that might have shape edges. And don’t allow your children to wear masks that might block their vision. 

Makeup: Be cautious when using makeup for face paint. Much of it is not FDA-approved and could trigger allergic reactions. And never use decorative contact lenses; they can result is severe eye infections. Read the FDA's " 'Lucky 13' Tips for a Safe Halloween."

Roadside safety: Use of flashlights, glow sticks, and reflective tape will make your child visible to drivers at night. Reinforce the rules of the road, such as crossing streets only at corners and remind children not to run out from between parked cars.

Safety at home: Clear all obstacles from the path to your front door and make sure it’s well-lit. If using plug-in decorations, make sure they are safety listed by UL, ETL, or CSA. Electric, battery-operated candles are much safer than ones with real flames. Set the rules: make sure all trick-or-treaters stay together with friends—and adults, if they are under 12. Have older children carry a cell phone and have them check in regularly to let you know where they are. Remind them never to enter someone’s house. And don’t let them eat any candy until you’ve had time to thoroughly inspect it. And be aware of some recent recalls of Nestle Raisinets and Mega Pops lollipops.

—Don Mays