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During all the excitement of Halloween celebrations, dangers associated with costumes are rarely on the minds of the average person. They are, however, of serious concern. Despite the so-called safety testing conducted by costume makers and manufacturers, individuals are harmed by unsafe Halloween costumes every October. By being aware of the possible dangers and taking steps to protect yourself, you can enjoy a safe and pleasant holiday. One example of the dangers unsafe costumes can bring is that of a seven-year-old boy who was severely burned in 2004. Photos were taken and distributed of the boy's Lord of the Rings 'Ring Wraith' costume which, despite catching fire and hurting the boy, is still made and sold. How can you protect your children from such a tragedy? First of all, try and buy 100% polyester or nylon material costumes. These have the least chance of igniting, and if they do, they usually self-extinguish in a few seconds; however, this not the only danger. As the polyester melts it may start dripping the very hot material onto the skin, causing burns to the skin. If the costume says 100% polyester or nylon "exclusive of trimming and decorations"; that means that the part that's "exclusive" will burn, not to mention anything else your child maybe wearing under or over their costume. Foam padding popular in a lot of Superhero costumes burns pretty well. Stay completely away from 100% acrylic costumes. These go up like Roman candles. Make sure to avoid lit candles in your own Halloween displays. You should also take care around people's houses that have chosen to use this unsafe practice. Halloween costumes are often long, flowing, and difficult for a youngster to control or keep track of, particularly when they're out having fun. Besides the obvious risks associated with fire, Halloween costumes put their wearers in danger for other reasons. Costumes that are especially long and that include masks or other headwear could impede clear vision and make children more susceptible to tripping and falling, which is responsible for many injuries annually. Speaking of vision, there's a new trend happening the last few years that bears mentioning, and that is the practice of wearing colored or costume contact lenses on Halloween. This would pertain mostly to adults, obviously, and the danger here is that many of these products, typically sold at beauty salons, video stores, gas stations and flea markets have been associated with corneal abrasions, bacterial infections and other vision-threatening maladies. These products aren't licensed or controlled in any meaningful way, and quality and cleanliness standards are often quite suspect. Our advice is: don't put anything into your eye that doesn't belong there! While there certainly are some dangers associated with its celebration, Halloween can be an enjoyable day for everyone. Simply apply the above mentioned suggestions and stay safe during this holiday.
Article Source: http://www.writedot.com
Are you trying to come up with some creative Halloween costumes for your kids this year? Visit the Get In Costume website for lots of helpful ideas. Plus, get your free copy of my special report "The Family Guide To Halloween Safety" at www.getincostume.com
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