Skip to main content

Make Safety A Treat: CPSC Offers Safety Tips to Keep Hazards from Haunting Your Halloween

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As families across the nation prepare for festive Halloween fun, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is reminding consumers to focus on safety when selecting and creating costumes and home decorations.

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.

Here's how the injuries break down:

  • 55% were related to pumpkin carving;
  • 25% were due to falls while putting up or taking down decorations, tripping on costumes or walking while trick-or-treating;
  • 20% of the injuries included lacerations, ingestions and other injuries associated with costumes, pumpkins or decorations, and allergic reactions or rashes. 

Among the injured, 54 percent were adults 18 years and over, 46 percent were under 18 years old, and about 10 percent of all injuries were to children 6 years old or younger.

Fire safety is important year-round, with special awareness during holiday seasons. A new CPSC report estimates that candles and electrical cords/plugs were associated with an annual average of 5,600 and 1,600 fires, respectively, from 2017 through 2019.

Stay safe this Halloween by observing the following CPSC safety tips:

Pumpkin Carving:

  • Leave pumpkin carving to the adults. Child helpers can grab a spoon and scoop out the inside or use a marker to trace the design.
  • When your jack-o'-lantern masterpiece is ready, use battery-operated lights or glow sticks rather than an open-flame candle.
    • If using open-flame candles, keep them away from curtains, decorations and other combustibles that could catch fire.
    • Never leave burning candles unattended.

Costumes:

  • Wear a costume that fits and avoid overly long or baggy costumes to prevent trips and falls.
  • Costumes with loose, flowing fabrics can also be a fire hazard when close to open flames – keep away.
  • Reduce fire hazards by choosing costumes made of polyester or nylon fabric and not sheer cotton or rayon fabric. However, any fabric can burn if it comes in contact with an open flame.
  • Eye and nose holes in masks should permit full visibility and adequate breathing. Makeup may be a safer alternative to a mask.
  • Use reflective tape as a trim for costumes and outerwear to help being seen in lower light. Wearing a brightly colored costume and carrying a flashlight or glow stick can also help brighten the walkways for trick-or-treaters.
  • Check out our Halloween DIY video: https://youtu.be/HF3as5MGlzY

Decorating:

  • Prevent fires by using battery-operated lights and glow sticks instead of candles.
  • Pay attention to placement of decorations. To help prevent falls, remove obstacles from lawns, steps and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.
  • Use CPSC's ladder safety tips to prevent injuries while putting up or taking down decorations.
  • Indoors or outside, only use lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets.

About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.

For lifesaving information:
- Visit CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.
- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
- Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).
- Contact a media specialist

TOP Pageant News Now

Maria Gigante was crowned Universal Woman 2024 on March 22nd: Check LIVE Stream

Sofia Veron was crowned Reina Latina Internacional 2024 on March 21st: Check Streams and Check Results

Streaming Now Universal Woman 2024 on March 22nd from Cambodia: Check Results

Miss Botswana 2024 Final on March 23rd at the Royal Aria

Nine Contestants are Vying The Miss Gibraltar 2024 Crown at Final on March 23rd

Miss Beauty of Zeeland 2024 LIVE Stream on March 23rd from the Theater de Mythe in Goes

Miss Face of Cameroon / Miss Grand Cameroon 2024 Final on March 24th

Mister & Miss Supranational Cuba 2024 Final on March 24th at CUZ Miami Venue in Doral

Miss Mesoamérica International 2024 Final on March 24th in El Salvador

Miss Universe Netherlands 2024 Contestants announcement on March 24th

Miss Grand US Virgin Islands 2024 Final on March 25th

Miss Louisiana USA & Miss Louisiana Teen USA 2024 Dates are March 29th-30th

Miss Supranational Botswana 2024 on new date April 6th with Top 12 out of 30 Contestants

Miss Teen Universe South Africa 2024 Registration Deadline is March 20th

Miss Universe Laos Accepting Registrations, Deadline March 22nd

Miss Lesotho 2024 Registration Opens, Deadline March 31st, Final September 7th

Miss Supranational Perú 2024 Final on April 2

Miss Danmark 2024 Castings on March 23-24 and April 6-7

Miss Brazil World 2024 @ CNB Brasil: New Dates are May 26-30, Coronation on May 29th

CNB Ecuador 2024 Final on June 8th with 26 Contestants for The 73RD Miss Universe Pageant in Mexico