Halloween Costume Safety
Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Environmental Health team are trying to raise awareness in the run up to Halloween, in order to reduce the risks that costumes and accessories can pose for children.
Anyone planning to buy a Halloween costume online or from local suppliers is urged to check labels and packaging to ensure they are fully safety compliant and from a recognised retailer.
Costumes intended for use by children must carry the necessary labelling and important CE safety mark.
The following safety advice is available from www.nidirect.gov.uk as part of their ‘Put safety first at Halloween’ message.
Parents should be aware of the potential dangers of their children wearing fancy dress costumes, either shop bought or home-made, if they're around fireworks, sparklers, or open flames (such as pumpkins with candles).
If a child is wearing a fancy dress costume this Halloween:
- keep them away from naked flames – avoid using a naked flame or candle in pumpkins; use a torch, glow stick or battery-operated candle
- stop, drop and roll if clothing does catch on fire – to try to put the flames out and also to stop the flames from rising towards the face
- choose a costume and mask that doesn’t restrict a child’s visibility or vision
- make sure they wear woollen tights or ‘heavy’ trousers (jeans) and a woollen jumper under the costume
- supervise them well at all times
Look out for costumes that are labelled ‘Low Flammability’ ‘BS5722’ or have the European code ‘BS EN 14878’.