Public Health Alerts
< Back to Main Public Health Alert Page
Halloween Safety Tips from CPSC
Simple CPSC Safety Tips Help
Prevent Halloween Hidden Dangers:
Parents Encouraged to Incorporate Safety into Celebration
October 26, 2007
Children around the country are eagerly anticipating the night when
they will wear their favorite costume and search for fun and delicious
treats. As Halloween creeps up, the Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) reminds parents and caregivers that when it comes to Halloween
safety, there is no trick. Hidden dangers associated with costumes,
treats, and decorations can be easily prevented, so that the holiday
celebration is a real treat.
According to the CPSC, the most serious Halloween-related injuries
involve burns from flammable costumes and decorations, including
ignition from open flames, such as candles and Jack O'Lanterns. Other
incidents have involved abrasions from sharp objects attached to masks
or costumes.
"Home-made costumes that are not flame resistant continue to be the
major concern," said CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. "When making a
costume, parents need to use inherently flame-resistant fabrics, such as
nylon and polyester. Also, they should avoid long-draped items that
could cause an entanglement hazard."
CPSC helps keep children safe by enforcing the Flammable Fabrics Act and
by recalling products at Halloween and throughout the year that can
cause injury.
Follow these safety tips to ensure this year's holiday is a safe one:
Costumes
When purchasing costumes, masks, beards and wigs, look for
flame-resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester, or look for the
label "Flame Resistant." Flame-resistant fabrics will resist burning and
should extinguish quickly. To minimize the risk of contact with candles
and other fire sources, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and
outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.
Purchase or make costumes that are light, bright and clearly visible to
motorists.
For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim
costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's
headlights. Bags or sacks also should be light-colored or decorated with
reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware,
bicycle and sporting goods stores.
Children should carry flashlights to see and be seen.
Costumes should fit well and not drag on the ground to guard against
trips and falls.
Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Oversized high heels
are not a good idea.
Tie hats and scarves securely to prevent them from slipping over
children's eyes and obstructing vision.
If your child wears a mask, make sure it fits securely, provides
adequate ventilation, and has eye holes large enough to allow full
vision.
Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be made of soft,
flexible materials.
Treats
Warn children not to eat any treats until an adult has examined them
carefully for evidence of tampering.
Carefully examine any toys or novelty items received by
trick-or-treaters under three years of age. Do not allow young children
to have any items that are small enough to present a choking hazard or
that have small parts or components that could separate during use and
present a choking hazard.
Decorations
Keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where
costumes could brush against the flame.
Indoors, keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from curtains,
decorations and other combustibles that could catch fire. Do not leave
burning candles unattended.
Remove obstacles from lawns, steps and porches when expecting
trick-or-treaters.
Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by
a recognized testing laboratory, such as UL. Check each set of lights,
new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or
loose connections. Discard damaged sets.
Don't overload extension cords.
To see this release, please
go to
CPSC's web site.
This icon indicates that the link is a PDF file which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view & print the file.
