CHICAGO, (WAND) — According to the Illinois Poison Control Center accidental Halloween candy poisonings are rare, but they manage over a thousand cases yearly involving dry ice, cosmetics, and glow sticks.
In 2023 IPC managed 1,809 exposures to cosmetics, 289 exposures to glow sticks, and 11 exposures to dry ice.
“IPC rarely manages calls about Halloween candy, but still recommend parents and caregivers check their child’s candy as a safety precaution, especially with the use of candy-like products that contain THC,” said IPC Medical Director, Michael Wahl, MD. “Each year, IPC receives calls about internal and external exposures to glow sticks, dry ice, and Halloween makeup."
A few tips from the IPC while trick or treating with your children:
- inspect your child's candy, and discard any with torn packages, holes, or opened wrapping
- Also discard anything expired, or if you just question it
- check candy labels for allergens
- Don't allow your child to eat any home-baked goods
- For small children, remove any choking hazards like gum, peanuts, hard candies, and small toys.
To prevent glow stick poisoning:
- Make sure children do not chew on or break open glow sticks or any other glow-in-the-dark products.
- If a glow stick substance gets on their skin or their mouth, wash it off immediately
- If the substance gets into their eye, or if more than a mild skin or oral irritation happens, call the IPC immediately
- And they remind adults to make sure alcohol away from children, and make sure opened containers and unfinished beverages stay out of reach
To prevent poisoning from dry ice:
- Wear protective clothing like gloves when handling dry ice as exposure to the skin or if ingested can cause significant damage.
- Dry ice can cause burns similar to frostbite, so do not put it near a punch bowl or drinking cups.
- If a skin burn from dry ice is suspected, call the IPC.
- They add make sure you are using dry ice in a well ventilated area, as carbon dioxide gas is produced, And make sure to store it in an insulated container, not the freezer.
To prevent poisoning with costumes and cosmetics:
- Make sure the face paint or makeup is labeled as non-toxic, and avoid using anything containing talc or hydrocarbons, which can be dangerous if accidentally ingested by young children.
- Test the makeup on a small area of the skin like the arm and check for sensitivity to any ingredients before putting in on the face.
- Take off the makeup before going to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation.
- Throw out any expired makeup, or if it smells as this could be a sign of bacterial contamination.
- Don't use any products on the face or body that are not to be used on the skin.
To contact the IPC call their free, confidential 24-hour helpline (1-800-222-1222) staffed by specially trained physicians, nurses and pharmacists.
We have a full list of when to go trick-or-treating here.
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