You can hide, but you can't run. That's not just a transposed aphorism, it's sound advice for Easter egg huntmeisters.

Easter egg hunts shouldn't be scary, but they have their share of potential hazards.

"Remember it's lots of fun," says Carla Murray, spokeswoman for Maymont. "But the littlest hunters do need some help so they get their fair share of eggs and don't get run over by older children."

Kids rushing the backyard for a limited selection of free, sugar-based treats aren't apt to think before they charge.

Older children should be reminded that younger ones don't move as fast. Nor should the little ones be used as leap-frogs.

Scott "Mr. No-No" Cirillo of North Hollywood, Calif., offers more safety tips. Sometimes, he says, parents get carried away by their efforts to create the Best. Hunt. Ever.

"Before you start getting out your 24-foot-long extension ladder and hiding eggs where even birds get nosebleeds," he says, consider the following:

If the hunt is inside, don't hide eggs near electrical outlets or plugs, in light sockets or in, under or near glass.

If the hunt is outside, don't hide eggs in holes in the ground or trees; in foliage that has thorns or is potentially poisonous; in any animal's home, food bowl or play area; or where pesticides have been dispersed.

Maymont's annual outdoor egg hunt takes place tomorrow. To prepare, organizers clear the area of any fallen branches or debris and, when hiding eggs, avoid areas with holes or uneven surfaces. That takes care of most tripping hazards.

Common sense? Sure. But do you always remember to place the eggs at or below eye level for the younger set?

Cirillo, who operates www.mrnono.com, also offers post-hunt advice. Any real eggs that are cracked or damaged should be discarded, as well as eggs that have been unrefrigerated for more than two hours. Better safe than salmonella.

Finally, he says, "Keep count and track of the eggs you hid."

You don't want the kids or pets finding week-old, hard-boiled eggs or candy that's been exposed to the elements. And have you smelled a month-old egg that landed under the bed?
Contact Cynthia McMullen at cmcmullen@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6361.