Glowsticks & candy & loving Halloween
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 14:25
Ken Fey holds a doctor of pharmacy degree from the UA and is a Certified Specialist in Poison Information at the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center in Tucson. He also has five years of experience as a clinical pharmacist in hospitals in Tucson and Baltimore.
Halloween, which is just around the corner, is one of the best holidays EVER!! Why do I believe this? Well, I may have a slight addiction to fruit candies such as Jujyfruits, Tropical Dots, Sourpatch Kids, gummy critters and Red Vines. What better time than now to stock up on those candies, presumedly for potential trick-or-treaters?
Anyway, on with this holiday posting….
Halloween also means 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 beggars visible at dusk, but sometimes a curious toddler will bite into the fluorescent item, and unintentionally 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 eye(s.) 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:
• Inspect all treats before children are allowed to eat them.
• If you see a torn wrapper, broken seal or other odd appearance and suspect tampering, throw the candy or treat away.
• If you suspect tampering and the product has already been eaten, consult your poison center immediately.
• 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.
And remember to send any leftover fruit candy to the poison center…attention: Ken Fey. I love Halloween candy!
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 Web site for more information.
KARRIE says:
October 21st, 2009 at 11:59 pm
This is great info to know! You can never be to safe with your kids. Thanks for the tips and information!
Lisa Szlachetka says:
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:46 am
Hello Ken,
Most parents that I know love to seek advise about this tradition and it’s concerns.
Thanks for the information regarding glow sticks and kids even breaking them open.
Older kids like them just to throw around and sometimes they break them. What is the stuff in these things? Is it harmful to the skin if broken open? I always check the kids candy when they come in the front door. My oldest won’t be eating much of it as she just got her braces!
Ha!
ken fey says:
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:17 pm
thanks for the comments Karrie and Lisa. The chemical in the glow sticks is called dibutyl thalate. Just like if a small amount is tasted, the effects of the liquid on the skin is low in toxicity as well. It can cause local irritation, but that usually only happens when it has not been promptly washed off with soap and water. So wash it off as soon as possible, and we would only anticipate minimal effects, if any.
Joe says:
October 30th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Thanks for the info! now I can do good on my research paper! A+ here I come!
Dharma Bum says:
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
One other potential hazard with glow sticks: To activate, you must bend them until you hear the “crack” sound. That sound is a glass vial breaking within the tube allowing the binary components to mix and produce the glow. If your child bites, or breaks the glow stick, they can get cut by the glass, or potentially swallow shards of broken glass.
In any event, an old Army motto stirll rings true:
“Stay Alert, Stay Alive!”
ken fey says:
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Thank you Dharma for that insight. From what we understand, a lot of companies that make these products are getting away from the idea of using glass ampules inside the necklace. Most companies are using harder plastic ampules to contain the components for safety reasons. It is always good though to check for any signs or symptoms of cuts in the mouth.