Doctors are sounding the alarm as new study shows in over the past two decades there are instances of kids ingesting small but powerful magnets, doubling in the amount of battery-related emergency room visits.
Perils of Swallowing Magnets
Swallowing magnets are dangerous enough, but health experts are mainly anxious about hi-power magnets made of rare earth. Such magnets are in production since the 1980s, and now they are being used in kid's toys, as well as several desktop toys meant for grown-ups to ward off boredom, with brand names such as Neoballs, and Zen Magnets. These magnets are ten times more powerful compared to conventional, magnets used in refrigerators. It was the CPSC and the Consumer Product Safety Commission that revealed the perils of these magnets, only a few years ago.
The commission went on to mention that during the period of 2009 - 2013, a whopping 2,900 cases were treated in the US hospitals. The real danger comes when one or more of these magnets are swallowed.
What Happens when A Child Swallows A Magnet?
When a child swallows a magnet, it passes through his/her esophagus, stomach and enters the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in the pinching off of the surrounding tissue and thereby adversely affecting blood circulation. The bowels become torn and microbes invade the abdomen causing grave infections. It might even be necessary to get the intestines removed surgically if the condition becomes really serious. This made CPSC declare a total ban on toys containing high-power magnets, only for the courts overturn them two years later.
If there are any toys or other products consisting of high-powered magnets in your house, it is essential that they are kept out of reach of kids. It is also a good thing to talk to children concerning the dangers of swallowing a magnet. And in the event of them ingesting them accidentally into their bellies, they should call the ambulance or visit the doctor right away. You can also contact Poison Control at 1800-222-1222. They have experts that can tell you what to do.
Not only parents but people, in general, should be informed of the risk of swallowing high-power magnets. By taking these precautions, it is possible to bring down the cases of accidental swallowing of magnets, if not bringing the practice to an end altogether. After all, the safety of our very children is at stake in the face of these harmful magnets.
