Each year, the Texas Poison Center Network recieves more than 700 calls on Halloween. Halloween should be a fun time for children. However, there is potential for danger. Follow these safety tips to have a poison-free Halloween:

Feed your children before trick-or-treating or bring your own candy to give your children along the way so they will not be tempted to eat treats before the candy can be inspected.
Carefully check all candy before allowing your child to eat it.
Eat only those treats still in their original unopened wrappers.
Throw away all unwrapped candy. Also throw away candies if wrappers are faded, have holes or tears or signs of re-wrapping
Check fruit and homemade treats for punctures or foreign bodies that may have been injected, such as pins, metal needles or razor blades. Allow your child to eat such items only if from someone you know and trust. Most treat makers have good intentions, but it's not worth the risk.
WHEN IN DOUBT...THROW IT OUT!
Purchase non-toxic face paint or makeup for a safe, creative alternative to masks. Be sure to use cosmetics on the skin, and do not substitute other products, which may contain emollient laxatives, talc or hydrocarbons, which can be toxic. Home food colorings are not recommended because the tint may be difficult to wash off.
If any makeup is swallowed, call 1-800-222-1222 for treatment instructions.
Dry ice can be used in punch bowls, but should not be used in individual glasses. If swallowed, oral burns may occur. Direct contact with the skin can cause a frostbite type injury. Call 1-800-222-1222 with any questions or if someone has been directly exposed to dry ice.
Teach your children to never enter a stranger's home.
Review all appropriate pedestrian and traffic safety rules with your children.
Discourage teens from driving on Halloween. There are too many hazards and distractions for inexperienced drivers.
Glow sticks and necklaces are popular to help illuminate at night during Halloween. The sticks and necklaces occasionally break or children chew them open. If the contents get on the skin, it can cause irritation and dermatitis. If the contents come into contact with the eyes it can cause severe irritation and cause the eyes to water. Oral ingestion of the contents can cause nausea and burning. Be sure to call 1-800-222-1222 if anyone gets exposed to glow products.

Information the Poison Center Specialist Will Need:

* AGE and WEIGHT of the person.

* WHAT was eaten. Make sure you have the bottle or container with you.

* HOW MUCH was involved. This will help the poison center specialist determine the severity of the incident.

* HOW the victim is feeling or acting now.

Call and speak to the experts at 1-800-222-1222 for more treatment

recommendations 24 hours a day.

Candy

from Overseas

Here at the Texas Poison Center Network, we are preparing for the busiest time of year. We want you to be aware of some unseen and unknown dangers during Halloween, such as candy from overseas. Many of us consume candies and other delicacies from other countries daily without taking into consideration the difference in the quality and ingredients of these foods. There are many candies that the FDA has found to contain lead contaminants that exceed the maximum allowable amount of lead. We want people to be aware of this because as we all know this time of year children tend to over-consume candies. If they were to consume too much of the contaminated candies they could become very ill.

If you ever have questions or concerns about unfamiliar candies, treats and other foods please call your local Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

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Last year, 16 elementary school children between the ages of 9 and 10 began vomiting after eating "mints" given to them by another student. They were sent to local hospitals to receive treatment. After some investigation, it was determined that the "mints" were actually nicotine replacement lozenges. These lozenges closely resemble Tic Tac breath mints, and it is easy see how a child might mistake the "mints" for candy. Fortunately, none of these children were seriously injured, however; overdoses on these products could cause major side effects and in rare cases, death. Help us prevent pediatric poisonings:

Keep all medications out of the reach of children.
Secure purses, diaper bags, and suitcases that may contain nicotine replacement products. Be aware of products that visitors may bring into the home; children are curious and may investigate visitors' bags.
Don't refer to medications as candy.
Avoid taking medications in front of children.
Don't leave any medicine unattended while answering the door or phone.
Teach children never to take medicine unless an adult gives it to them. Many poisons look like food or drink.
Call the poison center (1-800-222-1222) if you suspect that a child has ingested a medicine or poison.

Program the phone number into home phones and cell phones for easy retrieval.

	Halloween Facts Halloween is thought to have originated around 4000 B.C., which means Halloween has been around for over 6,000 years. Boston, Massachusetts, holds the record for the most Jack O 'Lanterns lit at once. Children are more than twice as likely to be killed in a pedestrian/car accident on Halloween than on any other night.