Consumer Product Safety officials and doctors are trying to spread the word regarding the significant dangers that small, ball-bearing magnets pose to children who accidentally ingest them.
According to the Washington Post, these ball-bearing magnets are found in a number of toys for kids and adults, as well as many types of jewelry. Safety and health officials warn when two or more magnets are ingested, they can attract each other while inside the body and lead to serious injuries such as blood poisoning, small holes in the stomach and intestines, intestinal blockage or even death.
In November 2011, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a product-wide warning about the magnets in products that children may get their hands on after it received information about 22 incidents that had involved the ball-bearing magnets since 2009.
“The potential for serious injury and death if multiple magnets are swallowed demands that parents and medical professionals be aware of this hidden hazard,” CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said, “This is not a children’s product and should be kept away from children.”
If your child has been harmed by a dangerous product, contact Sokolove Law to find out if a product liability lawyer may be able to help you and represent your case.