Keeping safe this Halloween
An unsafe fancy dress costume can have dangerous — even tragic — consequences. Here’s how to make sure you stay safe this Halloween
If you’re getting dressed up this Halloween, how safe a costume is may not be the first thing on your mind.
But the safety of children’s costumes gained public attention in October 2014, when television presenter Claudia Winkleman’s 8 year old daughter was severely burned after her witch costume caught fire.
Ahead of Halloween tomorrow — we’re taking a look at what manufacturers have to do by law, and what you can do to make sure your child stays safe.
Who should make sure costumes are safe?
The safety of these costumes falls under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011. This means manufacturers must carry out a safety assessment, including an analysis of how flammable a costume might be.
The current standard doesn’t state that costumes should be non-flammable, but the rate at which they burn must be within an acceptable range, giving the adult enough time to remove the product once alight while minimising the risk of injury. There are more stringent rules for garments that would be worn on the child’s head, including fake beards and moustaches, wigs and headdresses.
Where applicable, there should also be relevant warnings to minimise risk, such as “Warning. Keep away from fire”.
Trading Standards tests samples of the costume against these standards for compliance with packaging, labelling, choking hazards, flammability, strangulation and suffocation. The product should be marked with a CE, which confirms it complies with safety standards.
But just because a costume is marked with CE doesn’t mean a child should wear it without adult supervision. Shocking results can still happen — as shown in this photo from routine testing of a fancy dress costume by Trading Standards this month.
What can you do?
Here are some of our tips for when you’re picking a costume:
- Only buy Halloween costumes from reputable shops and online websites. If you haven’t bought anything from the shop before, then make sure you check online reviews.
- Before you buy, check the costume comes with safety instructions, a CE marking and the manufacturer’s name.
- Keep on the lookout for fake products by checking the CE mark. Sometimes the wrong mark is used entirely. If it looks correct, a giveaway may be the middle line of ‘E’, which should be shorter than the other parts.
- Check for product recalls online — searching for ‘CTSI Recalls’ will bring up a comprehensive list.
- Keep children away from any naked flames.
- Have conversations with your children, and other family members and friends, about staying safe while having fun in fancy dress.
If you’d like more advice, or to report something to Trading Standards, contact our consumer service by phone or online.
