Glo sticks

[Absinth]

How do they work? You crack, shake and they light up, also, is it safe to pour on clothes or hair?

[Skids]

Cyalume sticks (the proper ones used by the military and such) are non-toxic, although it probably takes a lot of washing to get out.  You can smear it on our teeth and even drink it so that when you urinate it glows in the dark (that's what the military use it for anyway).  Its probably best not to though.

The sealed plastic tube contains a chemical liquid.  Also in there is another tube, this one glass and also sealed.  In the glass tube is another liquid chemical.  When you crack the tube you're breaking the inner glass tube and allowing the two chemicals to mix.  The resulting reaction causes the mixture to glow very brightly.

[Absinth]

So the military use it to have glow in the dark urine?

[Gef]

Anyone who breaks open one of these sticks is an idiot. Anyone who drinks the contents is a moron. The chemicals are not "safe".

[Absinth]

What if it says none toxic on the packaging, can you sue the company?

[Paul87]

Does it really matter anyway if you sue, it would be a hell of a party trick no matter where you are.

[Skids]

Cyalume sticks do say non-toxic on the packaging.  If you found that they were in fact toxic, you could sue.

Glowing urine is a good humoured way of spending some down time between deployments, especially for Royal Marines.  They seem to like doing it a lot.  That and getting naked.

[Hamish]

Toxic has a specific definition - ie a certain amount will kill you. This does not nessicarily mean it will not damage you kidneys, give you the runs or lay you out cold. salt is not classes as toxic, but eat enough (couple of spoons) and you'll be very ill and would probably end up in hospital/the morge

[ineedahobby]

My Husbands been in the army 22 years and hes never heard of anyone drinking the contents of a glo stick lol!

[ineedahobby]

I have found one of these blessed sticks (acquired from the army Ssshhh!)  It clearly states on the back that the contents should not be drunk or ingested.  Ive just cracked it and its very pretty, got 12 hours of luminous green light and nothing to do with it now!!!!!!

[turkey154]

me and boyfriend thought it was magical when his brother brought some glowsticks home from the navy for us. we had hours of fun!!