The Tricks We Play on Ourselves This Halloween

We've All Done It… But Was It Safe?

The Tricks We Play on Ourselves This Halloween

We've all had those moments.

You leave something on the counter thinking, "I'll put that away in a minute." You grab a cleaning product without reading the label. You let the kids play with glow sticks because, well, they're just glow sticks.

Most of the time, nothing happens. And maybe that's exactly why we keep doing it.

October is filled with reminders about Halloween safety, but what about the everyday tricks we play on ourselves when we assume something is harmless simply because we've always done it that way?

Halloween is supposed to be about costumes, candy, spooky decorations, and a little harmless fun. But some of the things we use to make the holiday exciting can create unexpected poison risks.

And the surprising part? Many of these risks have nothing to do with the candy collected on Halloween night.

So, before the costumes come out and the pumpkins get carved, let's talk about a few things we've probably all done without giving them much thought.

"It's Just a Glow Stick!"

Glow sticks have become a Halloween favorite. They're inexpensive, colorful, and a great way to help children stay visible while trick-or-treating.

But have you ever seen a toddler with a glow stick?

There's a good chance that at some point, it's going straight into their mouth.

Glow sticks contain chemicals that create their colorful glow. While the liquid inside is generally considered to have low toxicity, it can cause irritation to the mouth, skin, or eyes. And anyone who has accidentally tasted that liquid can tell you it's not exactly pleasant!

The bigger concern is that children may bite through the plastic, causing the liquid to leak.

A Little Caution Goes a Long Way: Keep an eye on little ones playing with glow sticks and toss any that are cracked or leaking. If the glowing liquid ends up in someone's mouth or eyes, don't panic! Give the poison center a call at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance on what to do next. After all, the glow should stay in the stick, not on the kids!

"That Makeup Should Be Fine!"

Halloween costumes wouldn't be complete without a little face paint, fake blood, or special-effects makeup.

But how many of us actually read the labels before applying these products?

Sometimes we grab whatever looks good at the store, use leftover makeup from last year, or even experiment with products that weren't intended for skin.

Not all decorative products are approved for use on the face or around the eyes. Certain ingredients can cause irritation, and some products may contain substances that are unsafe when swallowed or used incorrectly.

Just because something is marketed for Halloween doesn't automatically mean it's appropriate for every age group.

Before You Paint That Little Monster… Choose skin-safe cosmetics, check expiration dates, and test a small area of skin before applying makeup. Avoid getting products in the eyes or ears and always remove makeup gently with mild cleansers. If staining remains, skip the harsh scrubbing! If a reaction occurs or makeup accidentally gets into the eyes, contact the poison center at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance. After all, the only thing we want lingering after Halloween is the candy—not the green face paint  

"It's Just Candy… Right?"

Let's face it. Halloween and candy go hand in hand.

But what happens when something that isn't candy looks exactly like it?

Chewable vitamins, gummy medications, and cannabis edibles can resemble familiar treats. To a young child, a colorful gummy is simply a colorful gummy.

Children don't necessarily understand that one gummy is a piece of candy while another contains medication or another potentially harmful substance.

Halloween can make this confusion even more likely when candy bowls, treat bags, and colorful packages are everywhere.

A Treat of Advice....Keep medications, supplements, and cannabis products locked away and separate from Halloween treats. Never refer to medication as candy, even when trying to encourage a child to take it.

And remember, if a child gets into an unknown product, don't wait for symptoms before calling Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 

"A Little More Fog Would Look Amazing!"

Who doesn't love a spooky Halloween setup?

Fog machines, bubbling cauldrons, and eerie decorations can turn an ordinary front porch into a haunted house.

But some special effects require a little extra caution.

Dry ice is commonly used to create dramatic fog effects. However, dry ice is extremely cold and can cause serious frostbite-like injuries if handled with bare skin.

It also releases carbon dioxide gas as it warms. In enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, carbon dioxide can accumulate and create a dangerous environment.

A Trick Worth Remembering: When using dry ice, always wear insulated gloves, keep it out of children's reach, and make sure the area is well-ventilated. Never place dry ice in sealed containers or directly into drinks, as it can cause serious injuries. After all, the goal is to create a spooky atmosphere, not a real-life Halloween horror story!

"A Science Experiment Instead of Candy? How Fun!"

Handing out little science experiment kits instead of candy might seem like a fun and educational Halloween treat. But have you ever stopped to look at what's actually inside them? Some kits contain ingredients such as Alka-Seltzer tablets, which are medications, not just harmless fizzing tablets. Depending on the product, these tablets may contain aspirin and other active ingredients that can be harmful if swallowed by children. When handed out without instructions or adult supervision, curious little scientists might mistake the tablets for candy or put them in their mouths. 

Don't Let the Fun Turn Frightful... Before handing out science kits, check the ingredients, age recommendations, and instructions. Choose nonmedicated, age-appropriate activities, and make sure parents know what's inside. After all, Halloween experiments should create fun reactions.

Suicide Prevention Starts at Home: Notice the Pain, Create Connection and Make Our Homes Safer

Suicide Prevention Starts at Home: Notice the Pain, Create Connection and Make Our Homes Safer

September is Suicide Prevention Month—a time to remember that prevention is not only about what we do during a crisis. It is also about what we do every day to create safer homes, stronger connections, and a willingness to notice when someone we love is hurting.

For me, this subject is personal. 

I lost two close friends to suicide in 2025. One of them died the night before his birthday, and the other died the day after Thanksgiving. Those dates are difficult reminders that grief does not follow a calendar. Holidays, birthdays, and family gatherings can bring joy, but they can also magnify loneliness, grief, physical pain, financial stress, family struggles, or other difficulties that may not be visible to everyone around us.

I often think about what we can do differently, not because we can change what happened, but because perhaps something we do today could help someone tomorrow.

Notice more than the obvious signs

When we think about suicide prevention, we may picture someone saying they want to die. Sometimes that happens. But warning signs are not always that direct.

A person may talk about feeling hopeless, trapped, like a burden to others, or experiencing unbearable pain. They may withdraw from family and friends, experience significant changes in sleep or mood, become increasingly anxious or agitated, behave recklessly, or begin using more alcohol or drugs.

And there is something else we should pay attention to: physical pain.

Chronic illness, serious health conditions and ongoing physical pain can affect a person's emotional well-being. Someone who repeatedly says, "I can't live like this anymore," "I'm tired of hurting," or "I just want the pain to stop" deserves our attention.

We should not assume that someone is simply complaining or having a bad day.

Ask. Listen. Stay.

You do not need to have the perfect words. You can start with:

"You don't seem like yourself lately. How are you really doing?

"You've been dealing with a lot of pain. How are you coping?"

"I'm worried about you. Do you feel safe right now?

"Are you thinking about suicide?"

Asking someone directly about suicide does not put the idea into their head. It can create an opportunity for an honest conversation and help connect with someone to support.

Prevention also means making our homes safer

As a poison center professional, I think about prevention from a slightly different perspective.

Sometimes prevention means recognizing that when someone is in a moment of crisis, creating time and distance between that person and potentially dangerous items can matter.

That means taking a look around our homes, not because we assume someone in our family will attempt suicide, but because we want our homes to be as safe as possible.

Secure medications

Medications should be stored securely, particularly medications that could cause serious harm if taken incorrectly or in large amounts.

Consider:

• keeping prescription and over-the-counter medications locked and secured;
• avoiding leaving medications on countertops, in purses, backpacks or other easily accessible places;
• keeping track of medications in the home;
• properly disposing of medications that are no longer needed
• and paying particular attention when someone in the household is experiencing a mental health crisis.

Poison centers recommend safe medication storage, and the CDC specifically recommends securely storing prescriptions as part of suicide prevention. Simply putting medications out of sight or out of reach is not the same as secure storage.

And remember over-the-counter medications count, too. Pain relievers, cold medicines, and other common household medications are still medications and should be treated with care.

If you suspect someone has taken too much medication or any other potentially hazardous substance, don't wait for symptoms to appear. Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 for immediate, confidential guidance.

Secure firearms

If firearms are present in your home, secure them appropriately.

The CDC recommends securely storing firearms; and suicide prevention guidance encourages families to reduce access to lethal means, particularly when someone is experiencing an elevated risk.

Safe storage can include keeping firearms locked up and ensuring that unauthorized people cannot access them.

This isn't about assuming someone will use a firearm to hurt themselves. It is about creating a barrier during a potentially dangerous moment.

Pay attention to alcohol and other substances

Alcohol can affect someone’s judgment and lower inhibitions. Increased alcohol or drug use can also be a warning sign that someone is struggling.

This is particularly important during holidays and family gatherings.

If you are hosting Thanksgiving, Christmas, a birthday party, or another gathering, think about the people coming into your home- not just the food and decorations.

If someone who is struggling will be visiting:

• Keep medications secure
• Keep firearms secure
• Pay attention to alcohol consumption
• Don't leave someone who is significantly intoxicated and struggling alone
• Check in with people who seem unusually withdrawn, upset or overwhelmed

• Have a plan for getting someone home safely

If you're concerned about someone, stay connected rather than assuming someone else will notice.

And remember that visitors may bring medications, firearms, or other potentially dangerous items into your home. Have a safe place for medications and other items to be stored when guests arrive.

Prevention sometimes looks like a simple conversation before the party begins.

Don't wait for a crisis to check on someone

One of the most important things we can do is make checking on people normal.

Call the friend who has been unusually quiet.

Text the family member who has been dealing with chronic pain.

Sit with the person who recently experienced a divorce, job loss, death, or other major life change.

Check on the person who always says, "I'm fine."

And don't forget the people who appear to have everything together. We don't always know what someone is carrying.

Suicide prevention is not the responsibility of one person, one profession, or one organization. It happens in homes, schools, workplaces, healthcare settings, faith communities, and neighborhoods. SAMHSA emphasizes that prevention includes connection, recognizing warning signs, creating safety plans, and reducing access to lethal means.

Sometimes the most important thing we can give someone is time

I can't go back and change what happened to my two friends.

I can't change the day on the calendar.

I can't change that one of them should have been celebrating his birthday the following day or that the other should have been spending Thanksgiving weekend with the people who loved him.

But I can remember them.

And I can talk about prevention.

I can remind people that pain deserves to be noticed, even when it is physical pain.

I can remind families that locking up medications and firearms is not an overreaction.

I can remind friends to make the phone calls.

I can remind all of us that asking, "Are you okay?" is not enough if we aren't willing to stop and listen to the answer.

And I can remind people that needing help does not make them a burden.

•  If you are worried about someone or you believe someone may be in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

• If someone is struggling, experiencing emotional distress, or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You do not have to wait until someone is at the point of attempting suicide to reach out.

• If you suspect a poisoning or medication overdose, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. Help is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and is free and confidential.

Prevention starts before the crisis occurs.

• Notice the pain
• Start the conversation
• Secure the medications
• Secure the firearms
• Watch for changes

• Stay connected

Remember, don't be afraid to ask someone if they are thinking about suicide. Sometimes being willing to ask, and willing to stay, can make all the difference.