Keep the glow in Halloween

Posted: Oct 4, 2010 9:32 AM
Updated: Oct 4, 2010 10:42 AM

I need to confess something to the readers. I love Halloween. I mean I really truly enjoy the Halloween season. Mostly, I like the candy. By all means, if you are interested in sending candy my way after reading this blog, act on your instincts. The preferred candies are jujyfruits, dots, bottlecaps, licorice, and sour patch kids. Okay... I feel better... on with the blog...

This blog is actually being cut and pasted almost verbatim from a blog I wrote about this time last year. Why, you ask?

Honestly, the facts have not changed since then, and it is an important reminder for the Halloween season.

glow bracelets

Halloween time brings about an unusually high number of calls at the poison center regarding glowstick exposures. Glowing sticks, necklaces and bracelets are really good items to help make Halloween trick-or-treaters visible at dusk, but sometimes a curious toddler will bite into the fluorescent colors and taste some of the contents.

Fortunately, the colorful liquid in glowsticks is low on the toxicity scale. Minor stomach upset and/or mouth irritation is possible, but not probable. The liquid can irritate the child's eyes. If your child is exposed to the "glow" in a glowstick, don't panic--but do give us a call for instructions on what is best to do depending on your child's symptoms.

Another parental worry at Halloween is candy that has been tampered with. This is certainly a potential danger, though the actual number of cases of illness traced each year to candy contamination is extremely small. Still, prevention is always wise. Follow these guidelines for safety:
1. Inspect all treats before children are allowed to eat them.
2. If you see a torn wrapper, broken seal or other odd appearance and suspect tampering, throw the candy or treat away.
3. If you suspect tampering and the product has already been eaten, consult your poison center immediately.
4. If the product has been altered with glass, foreign objects, razor blades, etc., report this to your local sheriff or police department.

The simple rules regarding tampered treats are: 1. When in doubt, throw it out! 2. If you aren't sure, call us at 800-222-1222.

Call the toll-free national hotline at 1-800-222-1222 to reach your local poison center. If you live in Arizona outside of Maricopa County, this number will get you to our experts at the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center in Tucson. Check out our website for more information.