Halloween Costume Safety: How to Avoid Nasty Accidents and Spot Dangerous Fancy Dress

• Use battery-operated candles or LED lights inside pumpkins instead of naked flames.
• Keep costumes, wigs and accessories well away from candles, open fires and fireworks.
• Avoid long, trailing capes, oversized sleeves and loose fabric that could brush against a flame.
• Never assume a costume is fireproof simply because it carries the appropriate safety marking.
• Consider wearing ordinary clothing underneath a costume where practical, while remembering that this does not make the outfit safe around flames.
• Practice Safety Drills: Teach children the stop, drop, and roll method, reminding them to cover their face with their hands if clothing ever catches fire.

• Trousers, skirts and capes do not trail along the ground.
• Sleeves do not cover the hands or prevent children from using them properly.
• Shoes fit securely and provide enough grip for walking outdoors.
• Masks and headpieces stay in place without slipping over the eyes.
• Fastenings are secure and do not leave sharp edges or loose components exposed.

Let children try on their complete costume before heading out. A quick check indoors can reveal problems that might otherwise cause an accident when they are outside.

Trick-or-treating often takes place in the evening, when poor lighting and dark clothing can make pedestrians difficult for drivers to see.

Adding reflective tape to costumes, choosing light-up accessories or carrying a torch can improve visibility. Glow sticks may also help, provided they are used according to their instructions and kept away from young children who might chew on them.

Adults should supervise younger children closely, particularly when crossing roads, approaching driveways or walking through unfamiliar areas.

Where possible, stick to pavements, use pedestrian crossings and avoid running between parked cars. A costume that looks fantastic in photographs is not worth compromising road safety.

Materials should be selected and tested with their intended use in mind. Children’s costumes are likely to be worn around pumpkins, candles and other potential ignition sources, making flammability an essential consideration.

Manufacturers should carry out appropriate testing against the relevant legal requirements and applicable standards, including the relevant toy-flammability standard. They should not assume that a fabric is safe simply because it is commonly used in clothing.

Designers should also consider how the costume behaves when exposed to heat, including whether materials melt, drip or allow flames to spread rapidly.

A costume may look impressive, but unnecessary design features can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturers should assess whether long cords, trailing fabric, restrictive masks, sharp components or small detachable parts could pose a danger to the intended age group.

Age-appropriate design is particularly important for younger children, who may be less able to recognise hazards or remove a costume quickly if something goes wrong.

Consumers need accurate information to make informed decisions.

Packaging and product information should include the markings, warnings, instructions and identification details required by the applicable regulations. Any relevant fire warnings should be clear and easy to understand.

Manufacturers and importers should also ensure that the required business details and product or batch references are available so that products can be traced if a defect is identified.

Safety should be considered throughout the manufacturing process, not simply at the design stage.

Businesses should implement appropriate quality-control procedures, carry out relevant testing and ensure that materials and finished products meet the required specifications.

Where production is outsourced, manufacturers should still take appropriate steps to verify that the finished products meet applicable safety requirements.

A manufacturer’s responsibilities do not necessarily end once a costume reaches the shop floor.

Businesses should monitor complaints, investigate reports of defects and take appropriate action when a product presents a safety risk. Depending on the circumstances, this may include notifying Trading Standards, withdrawing products from sale or organising a recall.

Government guidance makes clear that manufacturers and importers must be prepared to address identified risks and provide information that supports product traceability.