Fireman's urgent alert to parents as certain Halloween costumes can 'go up in flames'

Fireman's urgent alert to parents as certain Halloween costumes can 'go up in flames' A fireman has issued an urgent alert to parents as certain Halloween costumes can "go up in flames". He recently named the outfits you want to avoid during spooky season A fireman has issued an urgent alert to parents as they start thinking about Halloween costumes. The big event will take place this weekend, but there are some things you need to be aware of, as there's some expert advice that you may not have come across regarding costumes. It turns out, when it comes to parenting choices, there's some things you need to know about picking out costumes as some can pose hidden dangers. According to the fire service, certain outfits need to be avoided at all costs or they could "go up in flames" when put in a risky situation. This isn't the first time such an alert has been issued either. Previously, it was shown how quickly some costumes can catch fire. A fireman from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service recently appeared in a video to offer advice. There's some information you should really be aware of. What is his advice? He said: "Hi everybody. So, leading up to Halloween, I'm guessing loads of people out there are going to be dressing up, are going to be going door to door on Halloween. "Before we do that, I just want to give you a little bit of advice around Halloween costumes. Did you know that many Halloween costumes can be highly flammable? "This is because many of them are classed as toys, so they are less fire resistant than normal clothes. Make sure you always check the label for a UKCA or CE mark. This tells us that this is safe to use." He added: "Unfortunately, there is a number of items out there people use as Halloween costumes but they in fact aren't, and they haven't been tested. So that's telling me that this is safe to use and it is flame retardant." Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings. Key information for parents In the video, the fireman holds up a child's costume to explain what people need to know. Naturally, all costumes should be checked to ensure they're as safe as possible. However, parents should look out for a few things when buying their children's costumes. Always ensure you buy them from reputable retailers and look for UKCA or CE marks on labels to ensure they meet British and European standards. You should also keep costumed children and long fabrics far away from candles, open fires and Jack-O'-Lanterns. Instead of using candles around the home to light pumpkins, you could also use battery-powered LED lights or torches. There are some simple changes you could make to help boost safety at this time of year. They can make a big difference. It should also be noted that you should show your children what to do in an extreme emergency. Teach children what to do if their clothes accidentally catch fire. The stop, drop and roll method is handy knowledge to have. As well as this, it's wise to choose face paint or makeup instead of restrictive masks. This should enable you to have a safer Halloween.