Halloween is a fun time for children and adults alike! Unfortunately, it can also be a dangerous time, as many people do not take the proper steps to ensure their safety. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has provided some safety tips for Halloween costumes:

1. Masks can obstruct vision. Buy non-toxic face paint and make-up instead.

2. Keep costumes short to prevent trips and falls.

3. Purchase flame retardant materials wherever possible.

4. Add reflective tape or striping to costumes and bags to help drivers see you at night.

5. Use battery-operated candles or glow sticks in jack-o’-lanterns instead of real candles to prevent the risk of fire.

There are few things more exciting than watching your child dress up as their favorite character and head out on Halloween night. However, this tradition can be hazardous if the proper safety measures aren’t taken into account.

Here are some safety tips for Halloween costumes:

1. Check the costume for flammability and fit.

2. Make sure the costume is properly fitted to your child. It should not be too long, in order to avoid tripping and falls.

3. If possible, add reflective tape to the costume in order to increase visibility at night.

4. Make sure that any weapons are soft and flexible (swords, knives, etc.), and that they don’t look real enough to confuse other kids or adults who may think they are real weapons.

5. Children should wear well-fitting shoes with non-slip soles in order to prevent falls while trick-or-treating, especially if it is raining or at dusk when visibility is lower.

6. Avoid decorative contact lenses that might obscure vision or cause damage to the eyes; if your child does wear them, make sure they are FDA approved for safety and follow all instructions for cleaning and disinfecting them before use.

As your kids get ready to enjoy the candy and costumes of Halloween, you can keep them safe by ensuring their costumes are flame resistant this year.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that parents choose costumes made with flame-resistant materials, such as polyester, nylon and acrylic fabrics. More than 3,000 children under age 15 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for burn injuries related to costumes between 1996 and 2006.

In addition to picking flame-resistant materials, there are other steps parents can take to ensure children’s safety when choosing a costume:

Look for the label: Before purchasing a costume, check for the manufacturer’s label or tag. It should state that the costume is made from flame-resistant material or state that it meets federal flammability standards. Costumes without labels may be made from material that readily ignites or burns rapidly if ignited.

Check out accessories: When buying Halloween accessories such as wigs, beards or hair colorings, look for labels stating that they are flame resistant. Accessories without labels indicating they are flame resistant could easily ignite from a candle or other open flames often associated with Halloween activities.

Use face paint instead of masks: Instead of using traditional masks that can obstruct vision, use non-toxic

It’s that time of year again, when you decide to become someone or something else for a day.

Unfortunately, many Halloween costumes come with safety hazards and defective products which can put you or your child in danger.

Follow these simple tips to help make this Halloween a safe one:

• If your child is under two, try using a non-toxic face paint instead of a mask. Masks are often made of hard plastic material and can obstruct your child’s vision and breathing.

• Carefully read the warning labels on the packaging before purchasing a costume or accessories. Make sure they are flame retardant.

• Use reflective tape to make sure trick-or-treaters are visible at night. Avoid costumes that are long and loose so children don’t trip.

• Purchase only costumes, beards and wigs that have been labeled as flame resistant or flame retardant.

• Try adding reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility at night.

• Only purchase toys from companies with a good reputation for quality products and safety standards.

• If wearing an accessory or costume sword, cane, stick or other similar item, make sure it is not sharp or too long

1. Look for a “flame retardant” label.

2. Avoid costumes made with polyester or other synthetic materials; natural fibers like cotton and wool are less flammable.

3. Check out the accessories, as well, that may be sold with the costumes; avoid long trailing fabric and capes.

4. Choose light-colored fabrics and costumes with reflective tape on them to make your child more visible to drivers on dark streets.

Once again, it’s time for the annual ritual of dressing up in costumes and pretending to be something we’re not. My particular favorite is the Alien costume. You know the one: it’s made of a greenish latex material with prominent veins and a big headpiece that gives you a weird, jagged-toothed smile. Even if you aren’t going out on Halloween, they’re comfortable to wear around the house. I’ve heard of people who spend every Saturday night hanging out on their couch in one, watching TV and eating potato chips.

But what about safety? How do we know whether these Halloween costumes are safe?

In general, when we’re buying products for ourselves or our family, we assume that the manufacturer has taken steps to make sure those products are safe for us to use in the ways they were intended. But how do we know whether that assumption is true? And what can we do if it turns out to be wrong?

One way to get some idea of whether a product is safe would be ask an expert; but there are a few problems with that approach. First, it’s not always easy to find an expert who isn’t also trying to sell you something. Second, even experts can disagree about safety issues; sometimes they

1.Buy or make costumes that are bright and reflective. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights. Choose light colors, and check the label for flame-resistant treatments.

2.Masks can limit or block eyesight, so consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives.

3.Have kids use glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.

4.When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase only those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.

5.Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.