X-ray marks the spot

Samaritan Healthcare scans holiday treats

MOSES LAKE — Every time Eleta Burns pointed out a peanut butter cup, it got a laugh.

Burns, an X-ray technologist at Samaritan Healthcare, was one of the radiology staff members on duty Monday evening to check candy out for safety purposes.

Costumed individuals and their parents clustered behind a safety wall to view the X-rays of their gathered goodies, and make sure there were no tricks lurking inside their treats.

It was the first time scanning candy for Samaritan student Tamii Frost, although she had worked the X-ray machine before.

"It's kind of fun," she said. "It's a great thing for the community. They should all line up and do it."

Frost demonstrated that metal objects do show up on the X-ray screen by putting a few sterile needles into several pieces, to show what it would look like.

Nothing turned up by 8 p.m. Monday, although observers did get to see the metal parts of a toy helicopter and a twisty tie amongst their M&Ms and Smarties. When those metal objects showed up, radiology technicians inspected the trays of candy that were being scanned until they were identified.

Connie Opheikens, community relations coordinator for Samaritan, was present with her grandchildren and said that another reason, outside of safety, that the hospital offers the X-rays is to offer a positive hospital experience.

"We want the kids to get used to coming to the hospital and having a good experience," Opheikens said. "Then the next time, if they're in an accident and we have to bring them back here in this room, then they're not afraid. They've already been back here and it's fun."

Nick Valdez said his brother-in-law works at the hospital, and told him about the X-rays. Valdez thought it was a good idea, and took his cousin, Josh Garcia, dressed as Jason.

"(I said), 'Man, you know what? I can spare a couple hours of my night and take my cousin trick or treating,'" Valdez said.

Garcia said he thought that it was cool to see his candy on the X-ray screen.

That was a typical reaction from trick or treaters throughout the evening.

While the X-rays began at about 5 p.m., people really began showing up after 7 p.m.

Denise Varney and her son, Cameron, 8, were in attendance because they thought the X-ray would be a good way to be safe and something fun to do.

"I remember my mom bringing us one time," Denise said.

Pam Powers said the children with her, Morgan Powers, 11, and Michaela Barrett, 8, had first done their trick or treating at a church festival, and she felt comfortable with that. But upon meeting a man doling out "huge handfuls of candy" on the street from a bowl, she felt less sure.

"I just said, 'You know what? We're going to the hospital and have it checked,'" she said. "And I'm sure he was just being very nice, but I felt it was important to do that."

Morgan said he thought it was kind of dumb to X-ray the candy at first, but his tone soon changed.

"When I saw it, I thought, 'Wow! That's really cool!" he said.

Michaela said she wondered at first why the candy was being X-rayed.

"Then I thought of, 'Well, what if there was something in it that could kill us?' she said. "Then I thought, 'OK, we might as well just have our candy X-rayed.'"

"So a little adventure to end the day," Pam Powers summed up.