Did you Know? Halloween Costumes can be Dangerous!

We don’t often think of clothing as a danger, but the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission begs to differ on that issue. Recently, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized a shipment of Halloween costumes that arrived at a U.S. port in Seattle because they had eleven times the legal amount of lead. The shipments were sent over from China, where they were destined for distributors in the Seattle area. The CBP staff wanted to do an extensive examination on the costumes before allowing them to be sent in stores. They took samples on the fabric which were then sent to the CPSC.

That was when they found that the costumes had an illegal amount of lead and were in violation of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act The lead was found in the many buttons and rivets on the costumes, which were mostly pirate attire. The CBP and CPSC are glad that they were able to detect the mistake promptly, and have announced that they were able to prevent children from being exposed to dangerous levels of lead this Halloween. The costumes, which in all are retailed at more than $10,000, will be burned because of their danger. More than $23 million worth of dangerous and hazardous goods have been seized at US Ports throughout the past year.

In response to the costume seizure, the Consumer Product Safety Commission released a questionnaire that all parents should evaluate when purchasing a costume for their children this Halloween. The CPSC on Safety says that all parents should consider whether or not costumes are flame resistant. It is illegal to create costumes that burn rapidly and are considered flammable, according to U.S. law. This means that if the fabric on your child’s Halloween costume has the potential to go up in flames it is illegal and needs to be reported to the CPSC promptly. All Halloween accessories like wigs, accessories, and toys also need to meet the federal flammability requirements.

While all costumes must meet the flammability requirements, this does not mean that costumes won’t burn if they are held to an open flame. Halloween is typically a time when candles and jack-o-lanterns are burning and torches may be lighted. If fabric is exposed to these elements then chances are that it will ignite. The CPSC recommends that parents avoid buying big and billowy costumes for their children, as these may have the tendency to catch fire.

In addition to fire risks, you will also want to vigilant in looking for illegal lead levels on your child’s Halloween costume. The best way to watch for lead is to make sure that the product has been approved by the USCPSC and to watch for any recalls. Changes are that the costume is safe if it is being sold in a reliable United States retail store. If your child is going to be out on the streets trick-or-treating at night, then you may want to trim their costume in reflective tape or make sure that they have a bright flashlight on.

You will not want a dark costume on a dark knight to facilitate a pedestrian accident. Many drivers cannot see small children that are in the street at night, and this poses the risk for a devastating accident. If you purchased a Halloween costume with dangerous levels of lead or a tendency to go up in flames, and as a result your child was injured or fell ill, then you need to contact a product liability attorney in Miami at our firm today! With the help of an attorney from our firm, you may be able to battle the manufacturer in a product liability suit and receive damages that will help you to cover the costs of the ailment or injury.