RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley is reminding parents to take extra precautions this Halloween to keep their children safe during trick-or-treating and to check candy carefully before it is eaten.

“Trick-or-treating can be a great way for children to celebrate Halloween and have an enjoyable time,” said Easley. “To be sure that the night is fun for everyone, parents need to take some safety measures before, during and after their children go trick-or-treating in order to keep them safe.”

The following are safety tips families can use to help make this Halloween a treat:

Safe Costumes

• Costumes should be flame?retardant and short to prevent trips and falls.
• Use make?up instead of masks. Masks can block vision and be uncomfortable.
• Wear light-colored clothing or put reflective tape on costumes.
• Trick?or?treat in groups, and stop only at familiar houses where the outside lights are turned on. A parent should come along too.
• Parents may want to map out a safe route for older children and set guidelines on which houses they can visit.
• If trick?or?treating after dark, stay on well?lighted streets and use flashlights to make sure you are seen.
• Check out safe alternatives like trick?or?treating at local churches, town halls and shopping centers.
• Be sure any lighted candles or pumpkins are clear from dry leaves, pine straw or other flammable materials.

Safe Treats

• Parents should instruct children not to eat any goodies before adults have a chance to check for problems.
• Parents should inspect all treats before they are eaten. Only those treats that are unopened and individually wrapped in their original wrappers should be considered safe.

Safe Roadways and Sidewalks

• When driving on Halloween night, be on the lookout for children walking along the road.
• As always, if you will be driving on Halloween night, do not drink alcohol.

For more information about Halloween safety, contact the crime prevention officer at your local police or sheriff's department or the N.C. Division of Environmental Health at 919-715-8497.

You also can visit the Food and Drug Administration's “Safety Tips for Halloween” web site at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/kids/candyandtreats.html  or the National Crime Prevention Council's web site at http://www.ncpc.org/programs/crime-prevention-month/crime-prevention-month-and-halloween/ .

Note: Children are invited to trick-or-treat at the Executive Mansion (200 North Blount Street) on Halloween, Friday (Oct. 31) from 6 p.m to 7:30 p.m.