Halloween tips for parents as their ghouls and goblins go trick-or-treating

CLEVELAND - What would Halloween be without trick-or-treating? It may be reminiscent of your childhood, but local police say it’s a lot different than it used to be as more and more adults are heading out to celebrate Halloween.

"There's a lot of parties, there's a lot of costume competitions at bars," said Westlake Police Captain Guy Turner.

Turner said when you add adults partying, some of them drinking and some drinking and driving, with kids out at night in dark costumes, it has the potential for problems.

The group Safe Kids Worldwide said a new study shows, on average, twice as many child pedestrians are killed while walking on Halloween compared to other days of the year.

And only one-third of parents talk to their kids about Halloween safety.

"Give them a flashlight,” said Turner. “Give them some reflective tape on their clothing."

And instead of masks, Turner suggests using makeup because it's safer for kids to get around. A mask restricts their vision while going door-to-door.

As for adults out enjoying themselves on Halloween, many have good intentions not to drink and drive.

“The only thing I think would point out to you is last year in Las Vegas, a 12-year-old girl was run over and killed by a drunk driver and that fella was just sentenced the other day,” said Turner. "Don't be that guy."