Parents are being warned to remain vigilant to the fire risks that Halloween costumes can pose to their children.
As youngsters throughout the area prepare to celebrate Halloween on Saturday (October 31), the Council’s Trading Standards team is reminding residents that costumes have the potential to burn and cause serious injuries.
In the build up to Halloween, the Trading Standards team has been involved in a project as part of the West of Scotland Safety Group, which is made up of the 13 local authorities across the region, to test the quality of costumes being sold in Dumfries and Galloway.
5 costumes from a variety of national retailers were purchased and tested. 2 failed to meet the flammability and other safety standards of the regulations.
Fire safety issues related to Halloween costumes were cast into the public eye last year when the 8-year-old daughter of Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman suffered severe burns after her witch outfit caught fire.
Safety advice being given to parents includes ensuring that the costume fits properly to avoid trips and falls and making sure they have the necessary CE mark, which means they comply with the European Toy Safety Directive and should they catch alight the rate of burning is slow.
It is also advised that any masks or hoods don’t stop the child from seeing or breathing as this can cause safety risks.
Councillor Colin Smyth, chairman of the Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, said, “The findings from the test purchasing in the area are worrying. It’s important that we remind people about the dangers some costumes can pose. Everyone always looks forward to Halloween and the fun children have when dressing up. We just want to remind parents that, by taking the necessary steps to ensure costumes are of the correct standard and being vigilant around open flames that might be present in pumpkin lanterns, then potential incidents can be avoided.
“The message to people celebrating Halloween is simple – have fun dressing up in your scary outfits, but stay safe at the same time. The work of Trading Standards helps to ensure that products on sale in this area meet all the necessary standards but homemade costumes can also be dangerous. By taking on board the safety advice that is being provided then everyone will be able to enjoy their Halloween without any unfortunate mishaps.”
