A Spooktacular Look

There’s a lot of spooky homes around this Halloween, but we felt the decorations at 521 Cedar Street in Aptos really stood out.

While you don’t need to actually be afraid of ghosts or goblins, Aptos residents that are out and about on Halloween should be aware of actual dangers. Those can be reduced by choosing visible costumes, planning your trick-or-treat route and taking extra care around traffic.

Children should put their phones away. They’ll be crossing streets and walking past driveways. Avoid running into the road or stepping out between parked cars. Drivers should slow down, watch for children and check carefully before entering or leaving driveways.

Costumes should fit well enough to prevent tripping and allow children to see clearly. Reflective tape and flashlights can help make trick-or-treaters more visible. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends makeup as alternatives to masks that block vision.

Homeowners can help by clearing walkways of hoses and other obstacles, checking porch lights and keeping pets away from arriving children. Battery-operated lights offer an alternative to candles inside jack-o’-lanterns.

Before children eat their treats, families should check ingredient labels for allergens and remove hard candy, gum, small toys and other choking hazards from young children’s bags.