Halloween is one of the most anticipated days of the year for both children and adults.

While dressing up and pretending to be a superhero or a princess, trick-or-treating or going to a costume party can make for a fun-filled night, it can also be dangerous.

The Selma Police Department wants to make sure everyone stays safe on Halloween by offering a few safety tips to make their fun night an ever better one.

“We just want everybody to be safe out there,” said Selma Police Chief John Brock. “It is a fun filled holiday, but safety is the main thing.”

Trick-or-treating in Selma will be from dusk until around 8 p.m. For children out trick-or-treating, supervision is something every child should have.

“Every child should have an adult with them or some kind of supervision,” Brock said. “If it’s not an adult, it should be a teenager or somebody that is responsible for the child.”

Before taking children trick-or-treating, parents should make sure children know to check both ways before crossing the street and make eye contact with drivers stopping to let them cross.

“Reinforce the traffic laws out there. We don’t want kids to walk out in front of cars,” Brock said.

“Have fun out there, but the kids out there are going to be running around. They’re going to be running from house to house, so just be careful.”

Brock also suggests that parents drive their children from neighborhood to neighborhood instead of letting them walk and to be familiar with the area.

For drivers, be aware of children crossing the street and walking beside the road.

“Obey the speed limits and watch for kids because there are going to be lots of kids in several particular neighborhoods out there,” Brock said.

“Just make sure everybody is safe, everybody driving through the neighborhoods and everybody walking through the neighborhoods.”

Having a flashlight, wearing a reflective vest or bright colored costumes can also make trick-or-treating more safe for children.

“Make sure everybody has got reflective [material] on their costumes,” Brock said. “Make sure the adults with the kids have some kind of flashlight or something with them … because it is going to be dark out there.”

Brock said it is also a good idea to make sure children wearing masks or anything on their faces can see in all directions.

Houses passing out candy should be well lit and inviting to trick-or-treaters.

“The people that are giving out candy should make sure their porch is lit up and the house is lit up so the kids can come up to the house and feel safe,” Brock said.“Don’t let them or anybody inside your house.”

Brock said it is also a good idea to carry a cell phone while trick-or-treating to call for help if it is needed.

Brock said the police department will have extra officers on duty patrolling the neighborhoods and making sure everyone is safe.

When trick-or-treating is over, parents should check their children’s buckets or bags to make sure all candy and treats are safe.

“Let the parents, adult or whomever is supervising check the buckets to make sure there is nothing in there that can hurt them. Look for anything that is unusual,” Brock said.

“Don’t take anything that is not wrapped up. A lot of people give out homemade cookies and stuff like that, but I would be very weary of that just to be on the safe side unless you know the people.”

Brock expects there to lots of parties Saturday night as well.

“When you have parties alcohol is going to be involved,” Brock said. “If you are going to go to one of these parties make sure you’ve got a designated driver that can take you there and back. Don’t drink and drive.”

More Halloween safety tips can be found online at www.safekids.org.