Stay safe this Halloween
Tuesday, 27th October 2015.
Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service and Trading Standards are warning people to not let Halloween become scary for all the wrong reasons.
The message comes as Suffolk Trading Standards will be testing a selection of children’s Halloween costumes, this year, to make sure they are compliant with the flammability requirements for toy safety.
Every year on 31 October, children and adults are injured in accidents where candles or fireworks have set fire to costumes and hair. Plastic capes and bin liners, often used as costumes, are also fire risks.
Some retailers are enhancing the their testing procedures by making sure that their costumes are compliant with nightwear safety requirements for flammability as these are considered to be more stringent than those for toy safety.
The Chief Fire Officers’ Association, along with Trading Standards are now calling for the standards to be changed, so that fancy dress costumes are subject to the same safety standards as children’s nightclothes.
Councillor Matthew Hicks Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for public protection, said: “We want the people of Suffolk to celebrate and enjoy Halloween and bonfire night and would appeal to them to take care. Fireworks and bonfires can of course be dangerous but by following common sense and safety advice from our police and Trading Standards the risks can be greatly reduced as we want them to celebrate safely. I would also ask that we all remember not to frighten the elderly and vulnerable by being anti-social with our actions at this time.”
Councillor Sarah Stamp, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “If you are buying a Halloween costume, make sure that you buy it from a reputable shop, be extra vigilant when buying online and check that the costume has a CE label. Having a CE label means that the costume will meet the necessary health and safety requirements. If residents find any children’s costumes that do not have a CE mark, they can let Trading Standards know by calling the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.
Hear Station Commander Ian Mallet, Prevention Lead for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service as he highlights why buying the right costume is important: https://youtu.be/ci1yDMHb8eA
The following top tips will help you reduce your fire risk this Halloween:
·If you’re making homemade lanterns, think carefully about the fire risks – particularly the possibility of the candle falling over. It is far safer to use flickering LED candles than real candles in pumpkins and as part of displays.
·Lanterns should never be made from plastic bottles or other plastic containers.
·Make sure that fancy dress costumes and masks are labelled as flame-resistant.
·Check that the costume has a CE label.
·Don't use flammable materials to make home-made costumes. Be especially careful about using bin liners as capes.
·Keep children away from naked flames and don’t let them carry lit candles or lanterns with candles in them.
·If you are using decorative lights in your home, ensure that electricity sockets are not overloaded and that they’re switched off at the socket at night.
The message comes as Suffolk Trading Standards will be testing a selection of children’s Halloween costumes, this year, to make sure they are compliant with the flammability requirements for toy safety.
Every year on 31 October, children and adults are injured in accidents where candles or fireworks have set fire to costumes and hair. Plastic capes and bin liners, often used as costumes, are also fire risks.
Some retailers are enhancing the their testing procedures by making sure that their costumes are compliant with nightwear safety requirements for flammability as these are considered to be more stringent than those for toy safety.
The Chief Fire Officers’ Association, along with Trading Standards are now calling for the standards to be changed, so that fancy dress costumes are subject to the same safety standards as children’s nightclothes.
Councillor Matthew Hicks Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for public protection, said: “We want the people of Suffolk to celebrate and enjoy Halloween and bonfire night and would appeal to them to take care. Fireworks and bonfires can of course be dangerous but by following common sense and safety advice from our police and Trading Standards the risks can be greatly reduced as we want them to celebrate safely. I would also ask that we all remember not to frighten the elderly and vulnerable by being anti-social with our actions at this time.”
Councillor Sarah Stamp, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “If you are buying a Halloween costume, make sure that you buy it from a reputable shop, be extra vigilant when buying online and check that the costume has a CE label. Having a CE label means that the costume will meet the necessary health and safety requirements. If residents find any children’s costumes that do not have a CE mark, they can let Trading Standards know by calling the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.
Hear Station Commander Ian Mallet, Prevention Lead for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service as he highlights why buying the right costume is important: https://youtu.be/ci1yDMHb8eA
The following top tips will help you reduce your fire risk this Halloween:
·If you’re making homemade lanterns, think carefully about the fire risks – particularly the possibility of the candle falling over. It is far safer to use flickering LED candles than real candles in pumpkins and as part of displays.
·Lanterns should never be made from plastic bottles or other plastic containers.
·Make sure that fancy dress costumes and masks are labelled as flame-resistant.
·Check that the costume has a CE label.
·Don't use flammable materials to make home-made costumes. Be especially careful about using bin liners as capes.
·Keep children away from naked flames and don’t let them carry lit candles or lanterns with candles in them.
·If you are using decorative lights in your home, ensure that electricity sockets are not overloaded and that they’re switched off at the socket at night.
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