Halloween doesn’t have to turn spooky, Parkland experts say

  • Published: 10/30/2023
Halloween doesn’t have to turn spooky, Parkland experts say

Safety is primary concern when trick-or-treating

Ghosts, goblins, superheroes and no doubt a Barbie or two will once again be out in full force in neighborhoods across Dallas County this year. And while they work to ensure the safety of their tiny tots – and teens – Halloween can pose additional fears 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 Lizbeth Petty, MPH, NTPC public health educator. “The liquid will often squirt into the child’s mouth and even though it tastes awful, it will not poison a child.”

To get rid of the bitter taste, Petty 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, Petty 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,” Petty said. “Use cosmetics that are intended for the face and are labelled non-toxic. 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.”

In the days surrounding Halloween, the NTPC and the Texas Poison Center Network (TPCN) receive hundreds of calls exposure calls. In the years 2017-2022, between Oct. 28-Nov. 2:

  • The Texas Poison Center Network receives on average 3,806 exposure calls and the North Texas Poison Center (NTPC) receives on average 1,213 exposure calls
  • TPCN received an average of 111 glow product exposure calls and NTPC received an average of 39 glow product exposure calls
  • 72% of glow product exposures were in children aged 0-5, and 20% in children 6-12

Candy and treats are items that parents worry about, but according to Darlene Griffin, Crime Prevention Officer with the Dallas County Hospital District Police Department, tampering with treats is a rare event. What parents need to be concerned about is making sure their kids are “seen” on Halloween.

A chilling fact, according to the National Safe Kids Worldwide organization, is that kids are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

“You can make it easier for drivers to see your kids,” Griffin said. “Give your child a flashlight or glow stick to carry or attach retroreflective hangtags or tape to their costumes. Anything you can do to make your child more visible will lesson the danger that they might be injured. Still, as a parent, you must be vigilant in protecting them.”

The Safe Kids Worldwide offers the following tips for keeping trick-or-treaters safe:

  • Children under 12 should trick-or-treat and cross streets with an adult. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
  • Look left, right, and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
  • Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
  • Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
  • Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
  • Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
  • Young children should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well-lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

In addition to walk safety tips, Safe Kids Worldwide and Griffin remind parents to:

  • Check treats for signs of tampering before allowing children to eat them.
  • Remind children to eat only treats in original, unopened wrappers.
  • Candy should be thrown away if the wrapper is faded or torn, or if the candy is unwrapped.

“Still, if you think someone has tampered with candy or other goodies, call your local law enforcement agency,” Griffin 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 doorbell rings, remember that chocolate is poisonous to dogs and cats, Petty 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 free 24 hours a day and offer expert and confidential advice. For information about services available at Parkland, visit www.parklandhealth.org

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