Homemade / Buy Halloween Costume Safety Ideas & Tips for Adults & Kids

All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween) is here again and ensuring safety while making your own homemade or purchased costumes is more than a prerequisite. Have you ever wondered what October 31 will be like without costumes? So what safety ideas and tips should you take into account when making your homemade outfit for adults and kids? What if  your are shopping for the ready-made costumes? What should you consider while choosing not only the best costumes but also the safest? Read on to find out

Why Safe Costumes or Outfit Ideas for Adults & Kids?

Generally, October 31 is a time of great excitement for not only children but also adults who participate in this celebration.
Inasmuch as it is a celebration that involves children, great care and safety precautions should be taken especially in choosing or selecting costumes so as to avoid any harm that will eventually interfere with overall health of the participants.

Recent tests have shown that some costumes which were/are thought to be safe aren’t actually safe.

Last year (2014), a devastating incident occurred when the daughter of Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman Halloween outfit caught fire. The  eight-year-old daughter who goes by the name Matilda suffered severe burns.

According to the DailyMail -UK, even after the announcement of a new safety crackdown (Europe and Britain), high street retailers and supermarkets are selling costumes that catch fire within seconds.

Purchased & Homemade Halloween Safety Costume Tips & Ideas

Well, you ask, how do I choose a safe Halloween costume for my child or myself?

Whether you purchase one or you are skilled enough to come up with your own there are precautions or safety ideas to keep in mind. The following Halloween  safety costume tips & ideas range all the way from selecting, making/purchasing to actual disposing.

Select Flame Resistant Costumes– Always select flame resistant fabrics when purchasing for beards, masks, wigs or costumes. Why? Flame-resistant fabrics will resist burning and should extinguish quickly. Flame resistant fabrics include nylon and polyester. Alternatively look for the label “Flame Resistant”. Avoid outfits made of flimsy materials which may catch fire easily. “In past GHRI tests, we’ve found that costumes with spray-on glitter (even those that claim to be flame retardant) are the greatest risk, because the glue that holds the sparkles on can be extremely flammable. A better choice: sewed-on sequins.” This is according to Good housekeeping.com

Bright colored costumes preferable- Purchase or make costumes that are brightly colored and clearly visible by motorists.

Well-fitting Costumes-The costumes should be well-fitting. Avoid the baggy costumes with unfitting sleeves that drag on the ground. Large capes, or billowing skirts should be avoided at all costs! This will perfectly guard against trips and falls. Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. High heels are not a good idea.

Trim and Decorate Costumes for Visibility– To enhance visibilty during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes and treat bags with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights. At the same time, choose sacks or bags that are of bright colors or simply decorate with reflective tape for increased visibility. Reflective tape can found in hardware, bicycle, and sporting goods stores. . You may also consider you children having to carry flashlights to be able to see or be seen.

Tie Tight -Hats and scarves should be securely tied to prevent them from slipping over children’s eyes and obstructing their vision.

Safe Masks-If your child wears a mask, make sure it fits securely, provides adequate ventilation, and has holes large enough to allow full vision. Improperly fitted masks are known to interfere with your child’s vision or breathing. Use make-up or face paint instead of masks. If you MUST choose a mask, make sure it fits properly and allows them to see and breathe properly.

Safe Costume Accessories-Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be made of soft, flexible material to avoid injury during play time.

Select costumes that can be worn over warm clothing in situations where the weather is known or likely to be cold or wet. Remember to ensure that the costumes are fitting and not hanging loosely, bulging or puffed out as a result of being too big for the wearer

Stay away from Colored or decorative and non-prescription contact lenses for such lenses can cause injury to a child’s eyes.

Candles and jack-o’-lanterns should be kept away from doorsteps and landings especially where costumes could brush against the flame.

There you have it, those are few and simple Halloween costume safety ideas. Do you an additional costume safety idea. Please do add it below in the comment section.

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