diff --git a/code/game/objects/effects/decals/misc.dm b/code/game/objects/effects/decals/misc.dm
index 4167a7d24f8..0a627518e15 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/effects/decals/misc.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/effects/decals/misc.dm
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
-/obj/effect/decal/point
-	name = "arrow"
+/obj/effect/overlay/temp/point
+	name = "pointer"
 	icon = 'icons/mob/screen_gen.dmi'
 	icon_state = "arrow"
 	layer = 16
-	mouse_opacity = 0
+	duration = 25
+
+/obj/effect/overlay/temp/point/New(loc, set_invis = 0)
+	..()
+	invisibility = set_invis
 
 // Used for spray that you spray at walls, tables, hydrovats etc
 /obj/effect/decal/spraystill
diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/devices/flashlight.dm b/code/game/objects/items/devices/flashlight.dm
index 94a556d9b2e..8f5712523bc 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/devices/flashlight.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/devices/flashlight.dm
@@ -111,36 +111,28 @@
 
 /obj/item/device/flashlight/pen/afterattack(atom/target, mob/user, proximity_flag)
 	if(!proximity_flag)
-		if(holo_cooldown)
+		if(holo_cooldown > world.time)
 			user << "<span class='warning'>[src] is not ready yet!</span>"
 			return
 		var/T = get_turf(target)
 		if(locate(/mob/living) in T)
-			CreateHolo(T, user)
+			PoolOrNew(/obj/effect/medical_holosign, list(T,user)) //produce a holographic glow
+			holo_cooldown = world.time + 100
 			return
 	..()
 
-/obj/item/device/flashlight/pen/proc/CreateHolo(tturf,creator)
-	var/obj/effect/medical_holosign/M = new /obj/effect/medical_holosign(tturf)
-	M.visible_message("<span class='danger'>[creator] created a medical hologram!</span>")
-	holo_cooldown = 1
-	spawn(100)
-		holo_cooldown = 0
-	return
-
-/obj/effect/medical_holosign
+/obj/effect/overlay/temp/medical_holosign
 	name = "medical holosign"
-	desc = "A small holographic barrier that indicates a medic is coming to treat a patient."
-	icon = 'icons/effects/effects.dmi'
+	desc = "A small holographic glow that indicates a medic is coming to treat a patient."
 	icon_state = "medi_holo"
-	layer = 4.1
-	mouse_opacity = 0
+	duration = 30
+
+/obj/effect/medical_holosign/New(loc, creator)
+	..()
+	playsound(loc, 'sound/machines/ping.ogg', 50, 0) //make some noise!
+	if(creator)
+		visible_message("<span class='danger'>[creator] created a medical hologram!</span>")
 
-/obj/effect/medical_holosign/New()
-	playsound(loc, 'sound/machines/ping.ogg', 50, 0)
-	spawn(30)
-		qdel(src)
-	return
 
 /obj/item/device/flashlight/seclite
 	name = "seclite"
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/bot/ed209bot.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/bot/ed209bot.dm
index aded2b10a63..22f706b7091 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/bot/ed209bot.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/bot/ed209bot.dm
@@ -451,14 +451,7 @@ Auto Patrol[]"},
 	if(severity==2 && prob(70))
 		..(severity-1)
 	else
-		var/obj/effect/overlay/pulse2 = new/obj/effect/overlay ( loc )
-		pulse2.icon = 'icons/effects/effects.dmi'
-		pulse2.icon_state = "empdisable"
-		pulse2.name = "emp sparks"
-		pulse2.anchored = 1
-		pulse2.dir = pick(cardinal)
-		spawn(10)
-			qdel(pulse2)
+		PoolOrNew(/obj/effect/overlay/temp/emp, loc)
 		var/list/mob/living/carbon/targets = new
 		for(var/mob/living/carbon/C in view(12,src))
 			if(C.stat==2)
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/mob.dm b/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
index 0277e7528d2..bfeb2f6cf6e 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
@@ -326,11 +326,7 @@ var/next_mob_id = 0
 	if (!tile)
 		return 0
 
-	var/obj/P = new /obj/effect/decal/point(tile)
-	P.invisibility = invisibility
-	spawn (20)
-		if(P)
-			qdel(P)
+	PoolOrNew(/obj/effect/overlay/temp/point, list(tile,invisibility))
 
 	return 1