Posted: 10/29/2019
Safety is primary concern when trick-or-treating
There may be frost on the pumpkin which means it’s time for ghosts, goblins, skeletons and super heroes to make their way through neighborhoods across the county with their familiar cry – “Trick or Treat.” And while some homeowners go to extremes to have the scariest haunted house on the block, Halloween can result in frightening times for parents.
But experts at the North Texas Poison Center (NTPC), housed at Parkland Memorial Hospital, are ready 24/7 to calm the nerves of witches and warlocks whose little pumpkins have indulged in too much trickery. What tops the list of Halloween-related calls to the poison center? Glow sticks, followed closely by questions about Halloween treats and costume make-up.
“Children will be children and each year we receive calls from anxious parents whose child has bitten into a glow stick or glow jewelry,” said Cristina Thomas, NTPC public health education manager. “The liquid will often squirt into the child’s mouth and even though it tastes awful, it will not poison a child.”
To rid the bitter taste, Thomas said parents should have their child rinse their mouth with water until the bitterness has subsided.
In addition to the mouth, glow liquid can also get in youngsters’ eyes causing them to burn but not usually causing damage, Thomas said. “If glow liquid gets into the eyes, rinse the eyes with running water for about 15 minutes, and then call the poison center at 1-800-222-1222 for more instructions.”
Halloween make-up can also cause scary times if used incorrectly. “Stay with the tried-and-true when it comes to make-up for costumes. Anything else can cause skin rashes or irritation,” Thomas said. “Use cosmetics that are intended for the face. Don’t try homemade concoctions and be careful when using products that claim to ‘temporarily’ dye hair. While there are a lot of products on the market today that will give you the results you’re looking for, there are others that can result in a lot of irritation – both literally and figuratively.”
Thomas also warns against using decorative contact lenses unless they are prescribed by a physician. “Some decorative contact lenses may not meet professional standards and could injure the eye,” she said. “Rather than risk damaging your eye and possibly your vision, you might want to consider skipping this part of your costume.”
Candy and treats are items that parents worry about, but according to Lt. Robert Johnson, Crime Prevention Officer with the Dallas County Hospital District Police Department, tampering with treats is a rare event.
Still, there are steps parents can take to ease their concern:
• Before your Halloween celebration, give your children a good meal. They will be less likely to gobble the candy before you have a chance to check it.
• Go with your children when they collect their treats.
• Accept home baked goods only from people you know and trust.
• Inspect the treats yourself before letting children help themselves.
• Look for wrappers that are torn, punctured or discolored and inspect the candy inside to be sure that it is intact.
And, Lt. Johnson added, “There is no need to have candy X-rayed because they won’t show you anything different from what you can see on your own. Being diligent and inspecting what your child brings home, regardless of their age, is important to ensuring their health and safety.”
Sometimes chocolate will have a grayish color, called “bloom,” Lt. Johnson said. Chocolate and other candies may have hard white sugar crystals on the outside. This happens because of temperature changes while the candy is being stored. It does not mean the candy has been tampered with. “Still, if you think someone has tampered with candy or other goodies, call your local law enforcement agency,” Lt. Johnson said. “The key thing is ‘when in doubt, throw it out!’”
Once your trick-or-treater is home, or even if you’ve just got a bowl of goodies waiting for the next time your door bell rings, remember that chocolate is poisonous to dogs and cats, Thomas warns. “Be sure to keep the treats well out of your pet’s reach!”
Use the www.webpoisoncontrol.org online tool for guidance or call the NTPC at 1-800-222-1222 in case of a possible poisoning. Both are available 24 hours a day and offer expert guidance. For information about services available at Parkland, visit www.parklandhospital.com