Halloween Costume Safety Advice For Parents

Trading Standards in Swansea Council are urging parents to be aware of the potential fire risk presented by children’s fancy dress costumes in the run up to Halloween. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Parents are being advised to only buy children’s fancy dress costumes that have the ‘CE’ mark, meaning they comply with the Toy Safety Regulations. If costumes purchased do not include the ‘CE’ mark, parents are being urged to contact Trading Standards to report them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The call to parents follows on from an accident in October 2014 when television presenter Claudia Winkelman’s eight-year-old daughter was severely burned after her witch costume caught fire. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following the incident, a survey was conducted by Trading Standards throughout the UK to assess the level of compliance of children’s costumes available at that time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Mark Child, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Healthy City, said: “At this time of year we know that many young children will want to enjoy the Halloween celebrations by dressing up in costumes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have seen the reports about what happened to the TV presenter’s young daughter in 2014 and it’s something we hope never happens to anyone else’s child. The best way to minimise the risks of injury are to make sure toys and costumes feature the ‘CE’ mark. This tells parents that what they are purchasing and allowing their children to wear have passed specific Toy Safety Regulations.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Matthew Cridland, Chair of the Wales Heads of Trading Standards, said: “We would encourage parents to be vigilant and aware of the potential risks associated with fancy dress costumes and fire or naked flames. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The simple advice is to keep your children away from candles and naked flames or use an LED equivalent. Children are wearing fancy dress costumes more and more, including wigs and masks, not only during the Halloween period so please follow this advice at all times. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Only buy costumes labelled with a ‘CE’ and report retailers to your local Trading Standards service if you encounter costumes that do not bear this important safety mark.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Children’s fancy dress costumes discovered without the’ CE’ mark should be reported to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​