Halloween costumes are a favourite with adults and children but while becoming someone else for a night is fun, it can also be a fire hazard.
New costumes are supposed to be flame resistant. That means if it comes in contact with fire -- and the fire is then removed -- the costume should stop burning. That's what happened to an evil skull costume during a recent flame test. But a devil costume was destroyed within one minute. It was the same with a princess costume. A feather boa burned up in 90 seconds. And a hula skirt was gone in 60 seconds. And a homemade costume from a sheet was gone within 45 seconds. .
So look for costumes, beards, and wigs labeled "flame-resistant." Health Canada says nylon or heavyweight polyester costumes are best. But even then flame resistant does not mean 'fire proof'.
One hospital has a recipe it says will help make your costume more flame resistant: mix 1/2 cup of boric acid with a heaping cup of Borax. Dissolve in four litres of warm water. Soak the costume and let drip dry.
Of course the best thing to do is keep your costume away from open flame --if you have a jack o lantern on the front porch --use a tiny flashlight to light it up.
More costume advice
Face paint is better for visibility than a mask. There have been concerns about traces of lead in some face paint products. The cosmetics industry disputes the findings of an independent lab that published the lead findings, saying "trace levels of naturally occurring heavy metals reportedly found are well below the allowable levels --set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and don't present a health concern." The FDA says face paint should kept away from mouths and eyes and should not be used at all if it has a bad smell. Bottom line: face paint does allow for better visibility than a mask --which is important for children running door to door.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen.
