Halloween is one of the top days of the year for candle-related fires and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that Halloween-related injuries are among the most preventable of the year. Over the past three years, CPSC estimates that an annual average of 3,200 Halloween-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments. Burns from flammable costumes, falls from ill-fitting outfits, and lacerations from pumpkin carving account for the majority of these injuries.
The Flammable Costume Hazard
The biggest fire risk at Halloween is a flammable costume coming into contact with an open flame from a candle or a lit jack-o-lantern. Flowing capes, oversized sleeves, long skirts, and synthetic fabrics that have not been tested for flame resistance can catch fire instantly and burn intensely. Homemade costumes carry the greatest risk, as parents and crafters may not be aware of which fabrics are flame resistant and which are not.
The federal Flammable Fabrics Act requires Halloween costumes sold at retail to be flame-resistant. CPSC enforces this requirement and recalls costumes that violate it. However, enforcement does not cover homemade costumes, and non-compliant costumes sold through informal online sellers may not meet the standard.
Costume Safety Tips
- When purchasing a costume, look for “Flame Resistant” on the tag or packaging. Flame-resistant fabrics such as nylon and polyester will resist burning and should extinguish quickly if they contact a flame.
- Avoid costumes with long, flowing, or baggy elements — big sleeves, trailing skirts, and oversized capes are the highest-risk design features near open flames.
- If making a costume at home, use inherently flame-resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester. Avoid cotton, rayon, and other fabrics that burn readily.
- Make sure costumes fit well. Ill-fitting costumes cause trips and falls, which are the second most common Halloween injury.
- For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate costumes with reflective tape.
Decoration Safety Tips
- Use flameless candles, light sticks, or battery-powered lights inside jack-o-lanterns and around the home wherever children will have access. Halloween ranks among the top five days of the year for candle fires.
- Keep any open-flame candles and lit jack-o-lanterns well away from curtains, decorations, and other combustible materials.
- Never leave burning candles unattended.
- Keep candles and jack-o-lanterns away from landing areas and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame as trick-or-treaters pass by.
- Use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check each set of lights for broken sockets, frayed wires, or loose connections before use.
Pumpkin Carving Safety
Pumpkin carving accounts for 55 percent of all Halloween-related injuries. Always use proper pumpkin carving tools rather than kitchen knives, which are the most common cause of Halloween lacerations. Create a stable carving surface and keep children well away from the carving area.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, visit SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.
