Halloween is a haunting eve, when spooks and specters hover over local streets in search of some ghoulish fun and treats.

Police and fire officials are offering parents the following tips to keep your little ghosts and goblins safe as they trek out to trick-or-treat.

The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) is advising trick-or-treaters of all ages to avoid long, billowy costumes that can easily catch fire when they come in contact with an open flame.

Police officials are urging people to make sure Halloween masks have eyeholes that are large enough to allow complete visibility for both children and adults.

The NFPA is also advising the use of a flashlight or battery-powered candle to illuminate carved Jack-o-Lanterns. Wax candles should be kept from children. If adults are using them, they should make sure to light them with long fireplace matches or a long utility lighter and NEVER leave the candle unattended when it is burning, NFPA officials said. Always extinguish the candle when you leave the room – and keep children far away from pumpkins and other Halloween decorations with lighted candles.

A responsible adult should always accompany youngsters when they go trick-or-treating, police said.

Consider giving each child a flashlight or glow stick to increase visibility and personal safety. Let children think the flashlight is a spooky accessory.

Make sure kids stay together in a group when trick-or-treating, police said. Young children should always be accompanied, but teens and older children should still take precautions when crossing streets in costumes that might not be clearly visible to motorists.

Most importantly, never let children eat any Halloween candy until it is brought home and examined by an adult, police said. Sadly, there are people who think it is fun to lace candy with pills, or insert razor blades or other harmful items into candy.

The best candy is wrapped individually, police said. But don’t take anything for granted – even candy that appears to be safe can be turned into something deadly, police said.

The folks at Elmhurst Hospital Center and NYC Safe Kids Coalition are offering a free Halloween Safety seminar at 3:30 p.m. on October 27 at the Queens Library Jackson Heights Branch at 35-51 81st St.

For information on the seminar, call Anju Galer, Trauma Nurse Coordinator at Elmhurst Hospital Center, at 718-334-5724.