Our Halloween-centered festivities have been a wonderful way to jumpstart the mood and spirit! They result in a dramatic increase in calls to poison centers regarding the improper use of glow products. According to America’s Poison Centers, calls to poison control centers more than double each Labor Day weekend. Related calls for glow product poisoning increase to approximately 260. This very scary trend highlights the dangers that can come with common Halloween accessories like glow sticks and glow necklaces.
America’s Poison Centers, which accredits and represents 53 poison centers across the United States, has documented this spike in calls during Halloween for several years. As the organization points out, the majority of these incidents are children. Yet these little tykes are the most susceptible to the toxic impacts of colorful toxic concoctions. After using glow products, consumers routinely report symptoms including burning eyes and an angry gut. Most suffer from a heavy burning sensation in their oral cavity or larynx.
The leading offenders responsible for these poison control center calls are glow sticks and glow jewelry. These products, of course, can definitely enhance Halloween’s spooky season charm. If ingested or spilled, their highly toxic contents can result in severe health impacts. Chemicals in glow, festive or glow-in-the-dark products can pose serious health risks, resulting in painful irritation, eye injury or, in some cases, even hospitalization.
As with many holidays, the enthusiastic and festive spirit of Halloween can make the time more dangerous if we’re not careful. Many parents and guardians don’t know glow products can be dangerous until after an incident has already occurred. If the liquid from a cracked glow stick gets into your eyes, it can cause irritation. This may manifest as painful or irritating stinging sensations. Ingesting these products can lead to temporary stomach pain as well as burning of the mouth and throat.
The story told by America’s Poison Centers is an important reminder for all parents and caregivers. Parents need to be especially alert during Halloween outings. It is very important to closely supervise children and teach them to use glow products safely. Scalds keep these things away from your toddler. Highlight that they’re not food to better prevent accidental poisonings.
