A fireman has issued an urgent alert to parents ahead of Halloween, warning that certain costumes can "go up in flames" when placed in risky situations. The advice comes as families prepare for the event this weekend, with the fire service highlighting hidden dangers in some outfits.
According to the fire service, some costumes are classed as toys, making them less fire resistant than normal clothes. The fireman, from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, appeared in a video to urge parents to check labels for a UKCA or CE mark, which indicates the item is safe to use.
What the Fireman Said
In the video, the fireman said: "Hi everybody. So, leading up to Halloween, I'm guessing loads of people out there are going to be dressing up, are going to be going door to door on Halloween."
He added: "Did you know that many Halloween costumes can be highly flammable? This is because many of them are classed as toys, so they are less fire resistant than normal clothes. Make sure you always check the label for a UKCA or CE mark. This tells us that this is safe to use."
He continued: "Unfortunately, there is a number of items out there people use as Halloween costumes but they in fact aren't, and they haven't been tested. So that's telling me that this is safe to use and it is flame retardant."
Key Safety Tips for Parents
Parents are advised to buy costumes from reputable retailers and look for UKCA or CE marks on labels to ensure they meet British and European standards. Costumed children and long fabrics should be kept away from candles, open fires, and Jack-O'-Lanterns.
Instead of using candles to light pumpkins, battery-powered LED lights or torches can be used. Parents should also teach children the stop, drop and roll method in case their clothes accidentally catch fire.
Choosing face paint or makeup instead of restrictive masks is also recommended to ensure a safer Halloween.
