Welcome to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Podcast for October 27th, 2006.

Halloween is just a few scary days away, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission wants you to know that like young trick or treaters, Halloween’s hidden dangers also come in disguise.

CPSC is aware of serious Halloween-related injuries involving burns from flammable costumes and decorations, including ignition from open flames, such as candles and Jack O' Lanterns. Choose flame-resistant fabrics for costumes, such as nylon or polyester, and avoid long draped items that could cause an entanglement hazard.

Here are more tricks to making Halloween a treat:

• Wear costumes that are light, bright and clearly visible to motorists.
• For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's headlights.
• Children should carry flashlights to see and be seen.
• Keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame.
• Indoors, keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from curtains, decorations and other combustibles that could catch fire. Do not leave burning candles unattended.
• And, Carefully examine any toys or novelty items received by trick-or-treaters younger than three years of age. Do not allow young children to have any items that are small enough to present a choking hazard.

CPSC also announced a Halloween-related recall this week because of a choking hazard.

Paper Magic Group Inc. is voluntarily recalling about 97,000 Mr. Potato Head pumpkin decoration kits because they contain small parts.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

The recalled kits include plastic ears, eyes, noses, mouths, and jewelry that are used to decorate Halloween pumpkins. The products are labeled for ages 2 and older. They were sold exclusively at Target Stores nationwide. Consumers should stop using these pumpkin decorating kits immediately and return them to the nearest Target store for a full refund.

For more information, contact Paper Magic Group Inc. toll-free at (866) 394-5047 or visit the firm’s Web site at www.papermagic.com.

And finally this week, Wal-Mart announced the recall of two products -- 165,000 Home Trends Wood Footstools and 14,000 Minnie Mouse Cardigan Sets.

The stools can break and collapse due to poor construction, posing a fall hazard to consumers. Wal-Mart has received nine reports of the footstools breaking with seven reports of injuries, including a broken toe, cuts, a slight concussion, and whiplash.

The Minnie Mouse Cardigan Sets have a ribbon woven around the neckline that, if the cardigan is buttoned, poses a strangulation hazard for children.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

The pink cardigan is sold as part of a three-piece set and Minnie Mouse is embroidered on the lower left front of the cardigan.

Consumers can return both the stool and the return the cardigan set to any Wal-Mart for a full refund.

For additional information, contact Wal-Mart at (800) 925-6278.

For more on all these items and other recall and safety news, visit our Web site at www.CPSC.Gov. And, until next time, stay safe.

End.