Safe candy scanned at Samaritan
Safe candy scanned at Samaritan
X-ray scan finds no tricks in treats
MOSES LAKE — Most trick-or-treaters weren't intimidated by the gorilla at the information desk of Samaritan Healthcare.
They did, however, give some pause at the thought of handing over their Halloween candy to them.
But after costume-clad radiology technician Ken Morrison promised to return the treats, most were more than happy to turn over their bags and see what they looked like on the small screen in the hospital lobby.
About 50 trick-or-treaters turned out Tuesday night with their parents or other interested adults for safety purposes or just to see how the X-ray machine worked.
It was Morrison's first year working Halloween duty.
"It's cool to see the insides of the candy," Morrison said. He noted the X-ray was safe, with radiation not extending beyond a certain point, where the children did not go.
Some of the parents and adults brought their children along to give them experience in the hospital.
"Check out the candy," Erin Day said, along with Tyler, Kenna and Ethan. "We'd do this again as they get older."
Brittany Valdez brought along Batman's faithful sidekick, Robin, alias Braxton Sanchez, 4, because her mother works at the hospital and she thought it would be cool for him as she accompanied him trick-or-treating.
"That's all my candy?" Braxton asked as the insides of his bag were pointed out.
The creatures making their appearance at the hospital included a loaf of Wonder Bread, a sleepy baby devil accompanied by a princess and an angel, spiders, Spider-Man, a pair of doctors, and vampires.
Lusia Garnica, with children Daryuntae Young, 10, and Marrissela Garnica, 8, said it was their choice to check out the X-ray machine.
Several mysterious items warranted a closer look but upon further inspection, turned out to be part of the bag, or a pack of gummy Life Savers. Nothing dangerous was found during the two and a half hours.
Hospital employee Bob Reeder brought his children, Kyle, 14, and Jessica, 11.
"I thought it was very interesting to watch the bag appear up on the screen," Kyle said.
"We wanted to make sure our candy was good and also to learn about the X-ray," Rose Ann Homer said, with her grandsons Elijah and Joshua Barnett, aged 7 and 6.
"We wondered how it comes up on the screen and stuff," Elijah explained. "It's cool."
"The thing that you step on," Joshua exclaimed. Morrison would step on a pedal to take pictures of the candy.
"And how they figure out what the candy is," Elijah said.
"And figure out if it's bad or good," Joshua said.
Shelley Decubber brought her children, 9-year-old Savannah and 5-year-old Brody, just to ensure safety.
"These guys like to see it, they like to see what it looks like," she said. "I know (Savannah) was like, 'Yes! Yes! Let's go! Hurry, to the hospital, the hospital!' So that was one thing on our list to do today after Halloween."
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