Whether you’re planning to impress the neighborhood kids or make smoking cocktails for you and your friends, dry ice will make a clever addition to your Halloween festivities. However, it can pose safety risks, so you’ll need to take precautions. Review these do’s and don’ts before visiting your ice supplier.

Do:

Bring a cooler or a cardboard box.

You’ll likely receive your dry ice in a paper bag, and as soon as it’s taken out of the freezing compartment, it will begin to sublimate, or turn to gas. To slow down this process on your way to the party venue, bring an insulating container to the ice supplier, such as a cooler or cardboard box. Once the dry ice is inside, keep the box or cooler slightly open, so the growing supply of carbon dioxide doesn’t build up and explode.

Use a tool when handling the ice.

If you were to touch dry ice with a bare hand, you would experience immediate frostbite—this form of ice is around -109.3°F. To prevent your guests from injuring themselves, keep the dry ice in a secret location, and always use tongs or utensils when handling it.

Don’t:

Put dry ice in individual cups.

If you love the effect of a smokey Halloween cocktail, create a large mixture that will serve everyone, and put it in a punch bowl with the dry ice. When serving guests, use a ladle to deposit some of the concoction into cups, sans dry ice. Placing pieces of dry ice in each cup will increase the risk of someone swallowing the sub-freezing substance, which would lead to a medical emergency.

Choose a cramped space for your dry ice creation.

As the dry ice sublimates, it releases carbon dioxide gas. Since the gas is so cold, it will sink to the ground and slowly fill up a small room. Therefore, only use the dry ice in a spacious area that receives constant air circulation.

If you’re looking for a reliable dry ice supplier in the Honolulu area, turn to Hawaiian Ice Company. They offer high-quality packaged ice to clients throughout Oahu, whether you need to finish a science fair project or set the scene for a winter-themed wedding. They also offer ice storage units or cooling trucks to help prevent large orders from sublimating too quickly. To learn more about their offerings, visit the website, or call (808) 538-6918 today.