{"id":67541,"date":"2025-10-21T09:17:35","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T08:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=67541"},"modified":"2025-10-21T09:18:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T08:18:05","slug":"halloween-safety-warning-from-trading-standards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/halloween-safety-warning-from-trading-standards\/","title":{"rendered":"Halloween Safety Warning from Trading Standards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>With Halloween (October 31) fast approaching, Trading Standards is urging families to prioritise safety when buying costumes, decorations and novelty items.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parents are advised by Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service to choose well-fitting costumes made from thicker, flame-resistant materials and to avoid outfits with trailing fabric or cords, especially for children under seven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Costumes should carry a CE or UKCA mark and labels for these costumes should also include the manufacturers details and appropriate age warnings. We would always advise to purchase costumes from a reputable retailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Heart of the South West Trading Standards also warn that lanterns, candles and sparklers can pose serious risks to children if used unsupervised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br>\u201cWe would encourage the use torches or glow sticks as an alternative when enjoying Halloween with young children,\u201d says Ben Newell, Business and Commercial Team Manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAnd teach children to stop, cover their face, drop and roll if their costume catches fire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other safety tips include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ensure button batteries in toys and decorations are secured in lockable compartments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check that masks allow clear vision and can be removed easily.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid billowing, layered or trailing fabric. Choose well-fitting costumes in thicker material.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for CE\/UKCA mark on costumes, plus the manufacturer details, instructions and age warnings. &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There shouldn&#8217;t be any neck cords for costumes aimed at children under 7.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Warning labels on costumes and props are important so read before you buy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for flame resistant labels on costumes, which means they are less likely to ignite and should extinguish more quickly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add visible reflective tape to outwear, costumes and props to help children be seen in the dark<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Buy costumes from reputable sources and which are made to a high standard.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For more advice see <a href=\"https:\/\/eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk%2Fconsumer%2Fproduct-safety%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cdavid.beasley%40devon.gov.uk%7C0d78687184e44c66194608de0bdff147%7C8da13783cb68443fbb4b997f77fd5bfb%7C0%7C0%7C638961253608710190%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=fZzEHhEN99qHr2Mn1VaFo4HLiX0b1%2FcZDbn%2F%2FIZO9hI%3D&amp;reserved=0\" rel=\"noopener\">Safety and guidance advice and how to report a faulty or unsafe product<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":859,"featured_media":53885,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[22,7,34,2144],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-economy-and-skills","category-children-families-and-education","category-community","category-public-health"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":53885,"title":"Halloween","alt":"two carved pumpkins lit in the dark","description":"","caption":"Photo by David Menidrey on 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