Select a region
Firefighters are warning parents to make sure their children dressing up as ghouls and ghosts stay safe this Halloween.
They say fancy dress costumes are a dangerous fire risk and that young trick or treaters wearing them should be supervised at all times.
Station Commander Community Safety Clive Russell said: “Pumpkins and candles are the issue I guess, If you’ve got a big flouncy netted dress, and you’re sticking your hands into a bowl of sweets that dress could come into contact with a pumpkin on a doorstep.
“Whatever the costume, naked flames and costumes don’t mix and you’ve got to be supremely cautious about children wearing them. They will ignite and if they do, it will be horrific.
“But the real message is that children shouldn’t go on Halloween events unsupervised.”
The Fire Service say fancy dress costumes are classified as toys, rather than clothes, and are not covered by the same safety regulations so there is no requirement for them to be fire proofed or fire retardant.
Last year the daughter of Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia Winkleman was badly burned when her witch’s costume caught light. The presenter spoke out afterwards to raise awareness and to try and get changes made to the regulations.
The Fire Service's advice if anyone's clothes do catch fire is to stop, drop and roll - 'immediately stop moving, drop to the floor and roll around until all flames are extinguished' and then call for an ambulance straight away.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.