Having friends over to visit is a huge part of being a kid. It's nice to allow your child to have friends over, but it's also important to do what you can to keep your child and his friends as safe as possible. The first order of business is to make sure that your child understands that all of your regular rules are in effect while he has friends over to visit. It is up to him to make sure that they are obeyed, so he needs to let his friends know about them as well. A few additional tips about staying safe while hanging out are outlined below.Keep Alcohol Out of ReachNo matter how old your child is, you should talk to him about the risks of experimenting with alcohol. If you keep alcohol in the house, you should keep it in a place where your child and his friends can't access it. Even if you completely trust your child, the temptation to experiment can sometimes be too great. By keeping alcohol out of reach, you eliminate the risk of it falling into the wrong hands.Be Careful with FirearmsKids and guns don't mix. That's even true about teens who have experience with hunting and know the basics of firearm safety. The best course of action is to keep guns out of the home altogether. If you have to keep firearms in the home, make sure that the appropriate precautions are taken. Never keep a loaded gun in the home. Secure all guns with locks at all times. Keep guns locked away securely. It only takes one wrong move for a gun to have tragic consequences while your child is hanging out with friends.Keep an Eye on ThingsWhen your child knows that you're keeping an eye on his activities, he is less likely to engage in risky ones with his friends. The kids who are the most likely to get into trouble while hanging out are the ones who have no supervision. Even if your child is a teenager, you should not allow him to have friends over when you're not home. Make sure that he is aware of the possible consequences of breaking that rule. If he does break it, follow through with the consequences that you have outlined. In the long run, these measures will keep your child safe while he is hanging out with his friends.