Homemade Costume Warning!

Homemade Costume Warning!

What would happen if this sheep caught fire?

Note from Elad:

Making your own costumes is always a big challenge and lots of fun. We're always hoping that the ideas on our site will inspire you, but you must be careful!

I'd like to thank Tony H. from Millom, England for taking the time to send in this letter and photos. I've placed it in a prominent place on our site to remind everyone to use your best judgment and take all the necessary precautions when setting out to create your own homemade costumes.

The photos below may be a bit extreme for some, but I've decided to post them here anyway as a reminder to us all of what could happen if you're not careful.

Safe costume making!

Elad

Here's Tony's letter:

I would like to make people aware of the risks of these homemade costumes which are HIGHLY FLAMABLE!

We got the idea for a sheep costume made from entirely cotton wool and went to work on a white hoody and trousers. After around 10 bags of cotton wool and several tubes of fabric glue the masterpiece above was created.

All was going well and the costume well received until I went to light a cigarette and accidentally set fire to the hood that was pulled up around my face.

The fire spread and I was lucky enough to be rescued by 2 friends who were also outside otherwise I would have not been able to free myself from the flaming clothes.

(I would like to thank the quick response of Liam and Chummer, a.k.a. The Joker and God, for their quick response in pulling off my burning clothes and also the calm response of others at the party who cooled and dressed my burns easing the pain and no doubt limiting the damage to my skin. I owe you all a pint!)

I was lucky enough to only burn my inner thighs, hands and chin - 2 degree burns to 6% of my body. After a week in hospital and small infection in my leg I am now back home and on the road to recovery.

Please learn from my mistake and as I'm sure someone else will not be as lucky as me to escape with relatively minor wounds. Fancy dress is fun but take extra precautions such as:

Stay away from naked flames (completely)

Use inflammable materials where possible

Have a fire retardant base layer on.

Cut the sides and then velcro up the costume so it can be easily ripped off in the event of a fire.

I took none of the above precautions and have paid the consequences - don't think that this couldn't happen to you, be safe not sorry!

Homemade Costume Warning

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Homemade Costume Warning!

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May 30, 2009

be careful
by: chloe walsh

my pal had the same mistake, good thing I was watering the plants.

Jun 13, 2009

TIME TO QUIT!
by: Mary Hakkinen

This is a good sign for you to quit smoking ~ how people suffer to support the tabacco companies. Hmmmm... do love the costume though! Glad your OK.

Aug 08, 2009

Inflammable=flammable
by: Steve

Just have to add that people want to use NON-flammable materials. Inflammable actually means the same as flammable, i.e., inflammable stuff BURNS.

Don't ask me why they mean the same thing...they just do.

Use NON-flammable materials, that's the ticket.

Aug 18, 2009

Nurse in a burn unit
by: Anonymous

I have seen many people die for burns. Hats off to this company for taking the lead in making sure we all are safe.

Aug 27, 2009

to the person who told you to quit smoking
by: trish

Thank God your alright!!! But you didn't need to hear how you should quit smoking. It was a great costume!!! I always make my own costumes too, I think thats the best part.

Aug 31, 2009

Happens all the time
by: Anonymous

I had a friend who had this same story only he didn't turn out so well. His girlfriend went as Bo-Peep and he went as a sheep. They were in a bar when someone decided he would try to light one of the cotton balls to see what would happen. Well, as in the story his entire costume went up in flames and he was air lifted to a hospital 6 hours away. He had 2nd and 3rd degree burns to most of his body. Thankfully he recovered but will never be the same. It was a cute idea but ending up badly. Please be safe with your homemade costumes and be around people that you trust.

Sep 30, 2009

WOW!!!
by: Julia

That is a good reason to either quit smoking or use your brain (God gave it to you for a reason!). BTW thanks for posting this even though I do not believe in smoking I still think it is good that you posted this because now people will think about what they use on there costumes (hopefully) :)

Oct 04, 2009

SMOKING?!?!?!?!?
by: Heidi

This is a warning about the hazards of an unsafe Halloween costume not a debate on why he should stop smoking. Lighten up people. Personally I am thankful he is okay and was brave enough to post this to possibly save others (or their children) from experiencing what he went through.

Oct 05, 2009

Thank you Heidi
by: Josh

I don't think they are going to add a "May cause your Halloween costume to go up in flames" warning to cigarette packs any time soon. This was a freak accident that, like most, could have been avoided. But it could just have easily have started with a candle or a tiki torch. We have a campfire at our yearly Halloween party that is coming up soon. Thanks for this message. This will cause me to keep an eye open for partygoers who may not have considered fire safety when constructing their own costumes. And dude, don't let anyone make you feel stupid. We all make decisions every day that could have negative consequences that we might not have considered. We just usually end up on luckier, less unlikely end of them. My sympathies to you.

Oct 05, 2009

Thanks
by: Donna

Thanks for warning others of your incident (glad you're ok!), and thanks to the website for posting the warning. Considering the flammability of a homemade costumes is probably not on the minds of most who are looking to create a costume!

To those who are using this as a forum to impose your views of smoking-- get a grip, get a life, go read a book or something. The point of the letter/pictures is to watch out for how flammable materials in homemade costumes can be. Being a smoker didn't make the costume more flammable than the friend of the other reader who had his costume ignited by some jackass at a bar. Not all fires/burns start from cigarettes, either. Haven't you ever seen the home videos of weddings or birthday parties where someone/something goes up in flames after being near a candle or some other spark?!

Thanks again to the writer of the letter to warn us all about the dangers in making a homemade Halloween costume, and the website for posting it.

Oct 10, 2009

Skin
by: Anonymous

Never use a material that you are not familiar with, you may be in trouble if you use and have a reaction.

Oct 11, 2009

wow
by: chickens rock

wow me and mom have always made our own costumes and we didn't even think about stuff like that happening scary well thanks for telling us that!!

Oct 12, 2009

Brave Dude!
by: Anthony

Thanks for sharing your pain. I make costumes every year for myself and my family and I never even once gave fire safety a thought. You just changed that! Thanks! Tomorrow I'm buying a whole roll of Velcro!

Oct 16, 2009

Thanks
by: Jessica

Thanks for writing this letter. I am so glad you are ok! I hope that you did NOT give it a thought that you deserved this because you smoked. I am not a smoker, but I don't think this happen because you are. This could have happened to anyone in any situation near flames. Thanks again!!!

Oct 22, 2009

Fire Safety
by: Anonymous

If you are ever on fire
Stop, Drop, a Roll!

Do not try to remove your clothes. Roll around on the floor to put it out!

Oct 27, 2009

Not just accidental fires...
by: Wiawen

Less than a week ago three lads on a stag do in Portsmouth (UK) wearing homemade sheep outfits like this one.

Two men out drinking decided it would be funny to set fire to one of the lads and all three were badly burned when the fire spread to the others outfits.

Unfortunately there are lots of idiots like that around and I'm very glad you are warning others of flammable costumes.

Oct 28, 2009

Amazed and a bit angry.
by: Shannon (UK)

Firstly, wow! Your costume was awesome so congratulations on being a wicked sheep :)

Secondly, it's a real shame that this happened and hope you get better soon.

Thirdly, I think it's absolutely outrageous that people are leaving comments to repremand you for smoking?! As said above, it was a freak accident that could've happened to anybody and caused by a whole variety of things. I'd just like everyone to think if they dressed their child up as a sheep for a party and got set alight by cake candles or something? Would it be their own fault for liking cake? I think not. Don't let anyone make you feel stupid.

Lastly, I must say that the last picture of you, in hospital, is hot! ;)

Oct 30, 2009

Bummer!
by: Anonymous

That costume was awesome! I would have thought it would just singe the cotton and melt it a bit and not engulf in flames.

So many burn accidents can be avoided by learning from mistakes like this and the quick thinking of others.

I THANK YOU for your courage to share your story even though you probably have a few "friends" that think it was a big joke.

Please, if you ever see someone in need don't just wait around for others to save them.

Think fast, push them in the pool, take off your jacket and cover them. Get involved.

A woman and her child were burned to death in a nearby city because she was paralyzed with fear and passerby's were unable to open her car doors.

They stood by as the car was overtaken with flames and both the mother and child died.

If it were me I would have picked up ANYTHING to smash that window. Remove the child first and then the woman.

I hope you have the courage to do what is right when the time comes. I believe it is our duty.

Thank you young man for your valuable lesson!

In that way you are yourself a hero. My family will be a little bit more careful and safer because of it.

Sincerely,

CR

Oct 31, 2009

Made Me Think
by: Kayleigh

I read through all the comments, and first off, I want to say thank you for sharing this story with us. I know it never crossed my mind (and the minds of the other people who commented) that Halloween Costumes could catch on fire very easily!

Thank you for sharing your horrible experience to us so we can all avoid experiences such as yours. I'm very glad you lived to tell the tale.

And as for the smoking thing, yes, we all know that smoking is bad and you should quit, but that's not the point of the story, people! The point of the story is that ANYTHING can catch Halloween costumes on fire...whether it be cigarettes, candles on a cake, tea lights inside a Jack-O-Lantern, or like somebody said, some idiots at a bar who think it's funny to light somebody on fire!

Nov 07, 2009

I hope you're alright...
by: Anonymous

but that is one hell of a way to get a black sheep costume!

also if your friend is nicknamed God, it's safe to say that God save ur life! :)

Apr 12, 2010

Whoa!
by: Mom

That's scary stuff! I made my kids costumes last year out of tulle and cardboard and paint. Walking torches I guess. I'll rethink my supply list for this year. Thanks for the safety reminder!

Aug 17, 2010

wow..
by: Patty

That looks painful. Thank you for sharing, I will be extra careful. You would never think something so innocent and fun could be turned into a tragedy.

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