Glow Sticks

One of the most popular items around Halloween is glow sticks, necklaces, bracelets, and wands.  The average Poison Control Center receives about 50 calls in a 24 hour period for exposures to these items on Halloween. Children and pets can bite into them or get the liquid in their eyes. The big question is what is in these glow products and is it harmful. There are three main ingredients in glow sticks; dibutyl phthalate, hydrogen peroxide, and the fluorescent color. The product is not activated until a glass vial on the inside of the plastic is broken allowing the liquids to mix together creating the glow. These products are low in toxicity but can be very irritating to the eyes, skin, and mucus membranes (mouth).

What to do for ingestion

• Don’t be alarmed if your child’s lip and tongue glow for a few minutes
• Wipe the mouth with a clean wet washcloth; go over the tongue and around the gum line
• Give the child a small glass of water or milk, 4 ounces for a child under four, and 8 ounces for a child older.

For eye exposure:

• Irrigate or flush eyes with generous amounts of room temperature water for 10-15 minutes.
• Call the Poison Control Center for persistent irritation, swelling, pain, or sensitivity to light.

For skin exposure:

• Remove any cloth that is wet with the liquid
• Wash the exposed skin areas thoroughly with soap and water

The glow stick or product is minimally toxic and does not cause long term damage to a child. If the child ingests a taste it may cause some irritation, nausea, or vomiting. It’s the same with pets in the animal get a hold of the product. Follow the above steps for the different exposure types. Questions call your local Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222. The Poison Control Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.