Parents assume that any child’s Halloween costume sold in the United States is safe. The statistics say otherwise. Data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimated 4,300 Halloween-related injuries in 2016. In 2017, the CPSC said that 54% of the holiday’s horrors were due to pumpkin carving.

While that provides some measure of relief, parents should still be aware of the very real dangers associated with children’s Halloween costumes. Deciding whether a child’s Halloween costume is appropriate is only part of what parents must consider. Here are some other things to keep in mind to protect your child.

Halloween Costumes Can Burn

Data from the CPSC revealed 16 severe burn injuries from Halloween costumes in children under the age of 15, dating back to 1980. These were the cases severe enough to be reported, including the death of a 12-year-old Texas girl whose costume caught fire from a Jack-O-Lantern. In 2014, BBC Presenter Claudia Winkleman saw her daughter suffer severe burns after the child’s Halloween costume caught fire from a candle.

Parents need to understand that children’s Halloween costumes are not held to the same fire safety standards as clothing and sleepwear. They are classified as toys rather than clothes, which provides a loophole for manufacturers.

Parents should look for child Halloween costumes labeled as fire resistant. Avoid any costume with loose or gauze-y elements that hang down, including ground-length loose skirts, flared skirts, capes, hanging elements on sleeves or long, loose fringe. These elements are more likely to catch fire quickly and can ignite the rest of the costume before a child notices.

Loose elements also create a greater risk of slips and falls. Capes that tie around the neck should never be worn, as they present a choking hazard as well as a fire hazard.

Children’s Halloween Costume Accessories Can Blind

While plastic swords, machetes and claws are designed to prevent puncture and stab injuries, they can still be very dangerous to eyes. Prevent Blindness reports several hundred eye injuries each Halloween related to costumes that land kids in emergency rooms, sometimes with life-altering consequences.

Avoid any accessory that could injure an eye. This includes magic wands popular with the wizarding set and sonic screwdrivers. Parents can make a judgement on the appropriateness of an accessory; older children may be safe with these accessories, while younger children with a tendency to swish them around likely should not have them.

Do not use cosmetic contact lenses as part of a child’s Halloween costume. Contact lenses should never be worn without a prescription, and they require special care and handling.

Safety at Your Stoop

Keep the path to your front door clear and well lit. Make sure that children have easy, unobstructed access to handrails if you have stairs leading to your door.

There are two particular doorway hazards you must avoid. The first, and most critical, is any kind of illumination involving open flame. This includes Jack-O-Lanterns, luminarias and torches that use candles or fuels to support a live flame. These decorations present a very real risk of fires and burn injuries when children wearing costumes are moving around them. Use LED candles for Jack-O-Lanterns or UL-Approved outdoor lights.

The other hazard to avoid is step pads that activate animated Halloween decorations. These present a tripping hazard and a slip and fall hazard that is much greater on stairways. Step pads should only be used on flat surfaces, such as lawns, paths and driveways.

Sheff Law wishes everyone a happy and safe Halloween. We are here to help anyone in need of an injury attorney for areas including premises liability and products liability for injuries resulting from unsafe child Halloween costumes and accessories or Halloween decorations. Please contact us online or call us at 1-888-423-4477. We provide a free, no-obligation review of your case. There is never a charge for our representation unless you receive a settlement or court award.