Spooky season is upon us and the Florida Poison Control Center wants you to have a safe and happy Halloween with your family and friends.
“Halloween is a fun and exciting time for kids, but it’s important to remind parents and caregivers to be aware of potentially dangerous situations,” said Dr. Dawn Sollee, Director of the Florida/USVI Poison Information Center – Jacksonville.
The Florida/USVI Poison Information Center - Jacksonville is offering the following safety and trick-or-treating tips to avoid a Halloween “horror”:
Glow Sticks Are Fun and Bright — But Don’t Let Kids Take a Bite
There is an increase in calls regarding glow sticks/glow-in-the-dark jewelry during October.
Remind children not to chew or break open glow sticks or other glow products. Glow stick liquid is minimally toxic in small amounts.
- Can cause skin irritation
- Can cause mouth irritation and nausea if swallowed
- Eyes are especially sensitive to glow liquid
Be Careful with Cosmetics
Avoid allergic reactions and skin irritation.
- Only use non-toxic products intended for use on the skin.
- Throw away makeup that has expired or has a bad smell.
- Test makeup on a small area of skin first (like an arm or leg) to check for a potential allergic reaction prior to applying it to the face.
- Remove makeup and colored hair sprays before bedtime, to prevent eye and skin irritation.
Trick-Or-Treating Tips
After kids collect their candy, a few reminders.
- Some medicine and drugs can look like candy. Keep cannabis edibles out of reach to avoid mix-ups.
- Inspect candy and toys to avoid choking hazards and to ensure treats are in their original, unopened wrappers. Throw out any re-wrapped, home wrapped, partially wrapped or suspicious-looking candy.
- Keep candy and chocolate up and away from pets. Candy with the artificial sweetener xylitol in it can be deadly for dogs.
Stay Cool — Use Caution with Dry Ice
Using dry ice improperly can lead to serious burns.
- Wear gloves when touching dry ice, to prevent frostbite.
- Don’t place dry ice directly in punch bowls or cups. It can burn the mouth and throat.
- Don’t store dry ice in an unventilated room and don’t close your car windows when transporting dry ice.
- Ingestion or skin exposure can cause significant damage.
“Whether a child has bitten into a glow stick, gets a rash from face makeup, or someone gets burned by dry ice, we are available 24/7 to help with any poisoning emergency or question at 1-800-222-1222,” Sollee said.