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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Halloween is just around the corner, but before you send your kids off into the night, make sure they are properly prepared.

The tips are the same year after year, but like a good costume, they never go out of style.

"Give the kids some flashlights so they can use them so they're not tripping over the curb, or tripping out onto the street," Lt. Fred Varnell with the Colorado Springs Fire Department said.

Make sure trick-or-treaters can see and be seen.

"If you need to make those eye holes bigger go ahead and cut them and make them bigger," Varnell said.

The American Red Cross recommends using face paint instead of masks.

Varnell said parents should place reflective tape on costumes and remind kids to look both ways before crossing the street.

"It's real important because kids get real excited during this time of year, so we just want to reinforce look both ways before crossing the street, because they'll forget that," Varnell said.

Parents also have to remember to look both ways.

"You've got to slow down, because there are a million kids out there. They're excited, so keep the speeds low and then everybody will have a safe Halloween," Varnell said.

Don't forget to bundle up, especially if trick-or-treating after dark.

"Hypothermia is always a concern, especially with little kids, so make sure they have their gloves or goulashes, you can put their coats under the costumes if you can," Varnell said.

Halloween isn't just for kids, and neither are the safety tips.

Firefighters said if you choose to decorate your home, be aware of fire danger.

"A lot of the decorations they use at Halloween, especially the dried cornstalks and the crepe paper decorations, a lot of those are extremely flammable. So it's really important that people keep them away from any kind of heat source at all, and that includes light bulbs and some of the decorative string lights," Varnell said.

Varnell adds that string lights and light bulbs can generate enough heat to ignite flammable objects nearby.

"And obviously keep them away from heaters and candles, open flames," Varnell said.

Finally after all the tricks and treats, take a good look before diving in.

"Parents, always check your kids' candy before you let them eat it, and it has to be commercially-wrapped. Don't let them eat candy that's out of the wrapper, or food that's been prepared if you don't know who gave it to you," Varnell said.

Varnell said throw away any baked goods, fruit or any candy that has evidence of being tampered with.

More tips from the Colorado Springs Fire Department.