Halloween safety tips for trick-or-treaters, homeowners and drivers

The American Red Cross urges people to take safety precautions this Halloween, emphasizing that trick-or-treaters need to be able to see and be seen to avoid accidents.Halloween has become one of the most popular holidays in the U.S., with people of all ages taking part in trick-or-treating, decorating homes, and attending parties. The Red Cross said children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year, according to a news release from the organization.Trick-or-treaters should walk only on sidewalks, not in the street, and where there are no sidewalks, walk at the edge of the roadway facing traffic, the organization said.Children should look both ways before crossing, cross only at the corner, and avoid crossing between parked cars or cutting across yards and alleys, the release said.Drivers should use extra caution during trick-or-treating times, noting that children may forget to look both ways before crossing and that dr