Glow sticks are waterproof, do not use batteries, consume no oxygen, generate no or negligible heat, produce neither spark nor flame, can tolerate high pressures such as those found under water, are inexpensive, and are reasonably disposable. This makes them ideal as light sources and light markers by military forces,
campers,
spelunkers, and
recreational divers.
Entertainment Glowsticking is the use of glow sticks in dancing (such as in
glow poi and
wotagei). They are frequently used for entertainment at parties (in particular
raves),
concerts, and
dance clubs. They are used by
marching band conductors for evening performances; glow sticks are also used in festivals and celebrations around the world. Glow sticks also serve multiple functions as toys, readily visible night-time warnings to motorists, and luminous markings that enable parents to keep track of their children. Another use is for balloon-carried light effects. Glow sticks are also used to create special effects in low light photography and film. The
Guinness Book of Records recorded the world's largest glow stick was cracked at tall. It was created by the
University of Wisconsin–Whitewater's Chemistry Department to celebrate the school's sesquicentennial, or 150th birthday in
Whitewater, Wisconsin and cracked on 9 September 2018.
Recreation and survival Glow sticks are used for outdoor recreation, often used at night for marking. Scuba divers use diving-rated glow sticks to mark themselves during night dives. This is done to enable visibility of bioluminescent marine organisms, which cannot be seen while a bright dive light is illuminated. Glow sticks are used on backpacks, tent pegs, and on jackets during overnight camping expeditions. Often, glow sticks are recommended as an addition to
survival kits.
Industry There are specific industrial uses of glow sticks, which are often used as a light source in circumstances where electric lighting and LEDs are not best suited. For example, in the mining industry, glow sticks are required for emergency evacuation in the case of a gas leak. Use of an electric light source in this case may cause an unintended explosion. Chemiluminescence, the type of light used in glow sticks, is a "cold-light" and does not use electricity, and will not cause a gas leak to ignite. Glow sticks are also used worldwide in the marine industry, often used as fishing lures in long-line, recreational, and commercial fishing, as well as for personal safety.
Military Glow sticks were originally invented by the US military, and are an essential part of military operations across land and sea, where they are more often referred to as chem lights. Glow sticks are also used within
police tactical units, as light sources during night operations or
close-quarters combat in dark areas. They are also used to mark secured areas or objects of note. When worn, they can be used to identify friendly soldiers during nighttime operations. For search and rescue operations, glow sticks are often used during Man Overboard rescue scenarios to create a glowing trail back to the last known location of someone who is lost at sea.
Emergency services Glow sticks are used by
police,
fire, and
emergency medical services as light sources, similar to their military applications. Often, emergency rescue crews will hand out glow sticks in order to keep track of people at night, who may not have access to their own lighting. Glow sticks are sometimes attached to
life vests and
lifeboats on passenger and commercial vessels, to ensure night time visibility. Glow sticks are often part of emergency kits to provide basic lighting and provide ease of identification in dark areas. They can be found in emergency lighting kits in buildings,
public transportation vehicles, and
subway stations. == Operation ==