FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP): Haunted house owners across Indiana are ramping up for the scary season while taking steps to ensure their staff and visitors are safe in places that are often dark and cramped.

Most venues discourage pregnant women, young children, the elderly and those with heart or other serious health problems from entering haunted houses.

But Brett Molitor of Fort Wayne's Haunted Cave and Huntington's Haunted Castle says he's equipped staff with walkie-talkies and makes sure each volunteer actor is aware of two emergency exits. His sites also have weekly fire drills and a specific evacuation procedure.

Volunteers say the responsibility to keep patrons safe is part of working at a haunted house.