In recent years there have been a number of high profile incidents involving Halloween costumes in the media. With Claudia Winkleman's daughter's costume catching-fire and viral videos of costumes going up in flames in seconds all over social media, are these costumes safer than two years ago and should we still be worried about picking up costumes at our local store?



All children’s costumes have to comply with minimum fire resistance standards, like any item of clothing it is very hard to create a good fireproof garment cheaply, as clothing fabrics burn by their very nature.  If you are concerned about the costumes you are buying then the first place to start is by looking to see if that costumes conform to all relevant safety standard and regulations, including the European Directive EN71 for fancy dress items. Look out for the CE mark, which is a symbol applied to products to indicate that they conform with relevant EU directives regarding health and safety or environmental protection.

When shopping in-store or online try and choose costumes made of solid-colours and/or crushed velvet polyester, which typically melt when exposed to fire. Avoid cotton, linen, jute, and acetate in costumes, because these fabrics are more highly flammable.

The reality of the situation is that most costumes will be highly flammable and not much has changed, can we or retailer do much more to change this.. no... should we be worried.... no..... but we can be safe and ensure our children are well protected against open flames or opportunities for injury. I have put down a few other points you should consider this Halloween:

The Occasion
If you are planning to be around open flames or fireworks then it would be wise to avoid investing in costumes with long or billowing features. Trailing fabric can easy catch-a light on a naked flame!

Say No To Candles 
To safety proof your home, party or trip-out it’s advisable to opt for battery powered LED tea lights and candles like these from LEDHut.co.uk .The lights are an inexpensive and safe way to brighten up pumpkins, tables and your garden and will last for ages. Stick to lights, don't buy they cheap garden torches to light the garden for those dark nights as these are a common source of incidents and tend to attract the children's attention.

Think Quality
You get what you pay for in life.. this phrase is true for Halloween costumes as the cheaper they are the less likely they will be flame resistant or flame retardant properties.

Stay Visible
Keep your children safe and visible by ensuring they wear lighter clothing and consider investing in reflective strips.

Smoking
Avoid smoking around your children or anyone wearing a costume, once you have finished smoking ensure you put out your cigarette completely and dispose of it responsibility.

Fireworks
Always follow the fireworks code and never let-off fireworks wearing a costume:


It is also worth keeping an eye-out for any costumes that are being recalled over the Halloween season. I hope you have found this post useful, if you have anything else to add please let me know. Be safe!

Fancy dress costumes can often be at a higher risk of fire due to the materials present and the way they’re worn. #Halloween pic.twitter.com/dyoUdGRHN8

— Cambs Fire & Rescue (@cambsfrs) October 5, 2016